Music, to many, is far more than just an aural experience. Music is culture, rooting itself in the lives of those who listen, and serving as an incredibly important part of pop-culture throughout the years. Artists, songs, and albums come and go, growing in number yearly. Amidst this, one artist has toppled this tradition, turning a hit song into a career and propelling himself to never-before-seen heights. His name is Lil Tecca.
Using the momentum from his hit song “Ransom,” Lil Tecca engraved himself in rap culture, becoming a recognizable figure in the genre by the early 2020s. Fast forward to Oct. 31, 2025, with the artist packing a landmark Chicago venue, The Salt Shed, in celebration of his 6th studio album released earlier this year. Fittingly, the tour is called The Dopamine Experience. Naturally, I had to be there.
Given the eagerly-anticipated set, many people including myself found his opening artists to be lopsided. Ffawty, to put it simply, was boring. He lacked energy, and his music was largely indecipherable through most of his performance. He was clearly unprepared for the vivacious Chicago crowd, doing anything to try to get the crowd in his favor. In contrast, Hardrock, another opener for Lil Tecca, brought incredible energy. Hardrock included elements from various artists, reminiscent of the likes of Trippie Red or Playboi Carti. He did a great job of preparing the crowd for the hype Tecca would soon bring, playing high-energy music and interacting with the audience.
After almost an hour of openers, much of the crowd, myself included, were ready for Tecca. Tecca’s entrance was incredibly memorable, using both audio and visual cues to give the audience a taste of the rest of the night. Tecca’s use of a screenplay, which visually represented each song he played, elevated the concert experience even further. Tecca played vibrant flashing lights, small movie clips, and light effects, making his screenplay an experimental yet fun twist to the experience. The intense bass and incredibly bright lights made the concert feel like an out-of-world experience, something that cannot be replicated.
Lil Tecca has released 6 studio albums at this point, giving him a wide catalog of songs to choose from as he moves from city-to-city. Despite this, each song choice felt deliberate, holding meaning and significance. He played both older and newer songs, paying homage to old fans while still giving a taste of his present and his future as an artist. His performance of many classic songs like “Ransom” and “Love Me” brought upon incredible amounts of nostalgia.
“This song [ Did it Again by Lil Tecca] brings me back to middle school. Lil Tecca was an important part of my childhood, and getting to see him perform such classics was an ethereal experience. This is definitely one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to,” said senior and longtime Lil Tecca fan Amir Idrissi.
“The visuals and the light work were spectacular, and paired with the energetic crowd, it was so easy to get lost in the experience. Man, that night was so special,” said senior Henry Patyk.
Aside from the differing openers, Lil Tecca’s The Dopamine Experience was a breathtaking experience. The combination of such audio and visual cues allowed for a truly expansive experience which cannot be replicated. The Dopamine Experience is one that I would do over infinitely many times. It was more than just a concert; it was an explosion of creativity and emotion that left the stadium buzzing long after Tecca left the stage.
