by Marc Fong
Ken Carson has been having a serious year, and now he’s bringing his brand of chaos to San Francisco. The Atlanta rapper will hit Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on September 23 as part of his xperimenting Tour, supporting his latest album, xperiment. The project landed in the Billboard 200 Top 10 and pulled nearly 16 million global streams in its first 24 hours, adding another major milestone to a run that has seen Carson steadily move from underground favorite to one of rap’s biggest young names. With Playboi Carti, Young Thug, Destroy Lonely, 2hollis and Lil Uzi Vert all appearing across the project, xperiment finds Carson pushing further into the distorted, high-energy sound that has become his signature.
For anyone who has caught Carson live, the appeal goes well beyond the music. His shows have become known for packed crowds, nonstop movement and an atmosphere that can turn a concert into something closer to a full-on release of energy. Carson has sold more than 260,000 tickets across his solo runs, recently wrapped a sold-out European and UK tour, and has spent the summer tearing through major festivals, including a headline performance at Rolling Loud. With another ComplexCon headline slot on the horizon, Carson is clearly operating at a new level. On September 23, the xperimenting Tour brings that momentum to Bill Graham, giving Bay Area fans a chance to experience one of rap’s fastest-rising artists at full volume.
