Nigerian artist Asake brings Lagos street energy to a 33-piece orchestra on “Red Bull Symphonic,” a full performance streaming on YouTube. The sold-out night at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre marked him as the first African artist to headline the U.S. edition of Red Bull Symphonic.
Conducted by Glenn Alexander II, the orchestra wrapped strings, cellos, and brass around his Fuji-infused cadences. So hits like “Lonely at the Top” and “Sungba” carried a cinematic weight they never had on record. He opened with “Dull” from his debut album, then moved through “Sunmomi,” “Joha,” and “Nzaza” before pulling from later projects like “Worldwide”.
The guest list turned the night into a proper event. Wizkid walked out for “MMS” and sent the crowd into a frenzy, while Gunna joined for “Happiness”. Central Cee, Tiakola, and Fridayy also made appearances, so the stage kept shifting without the show losing momentum.
What stands out is how Asake handled the format. He did not let the symphonic setting soften his delivery. Instead, he performed his already-released songs as if they were new, adding dramatic pauses and crowd chants that kept the room engaged. He also previewed unreleased material, including a record with DJ Snake.
Orchestral backings rarely flatter a voice built for the street, yet here the contrast did the work. Have you watched “Red Bull Symphonic” yet? Drop your thoughts in the comment section below.
