Flo Milli Shit at Irving Plaza

Rapper Flo Milli lit up the stage at Irving Plaza during the first New York date of her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Tour. Flo brought along Monaleo for her first ever headline tour after the release of her sophomore album, You Still Here, Ho? The album itself is effervescent, lively, and a little all over the place, much like her show. 

Flo Milli had three openers before she took to the stage. First was Shakur Smalls, who lit up the stage with his energy and crowd interaction. Second was R&B singer Gogo Morrow. Her silky smooth vocals were a welcome tempo change from Smalls’ fast-paced introduction. Although my friends and I weren’t familiar with the openers, we had a great time dancing along with the rest of the crowd. Next, Monaleo made her NYC debut and energized the audience with her sly smiles, witty lyrics, and fast-paced flow. This was her first performance of her new single, “Body Bag,” but the crowd knew every lyric to her more popular songs such as “Beating Down Yo Block” and “Suck It Up.” Monaleo matched her powerful rapping with an infectious smile on her face the entire time and it was impossible to not have a good time during her set.

Flo Milli came on a little before 9:30 and started strong with “Come Outside,” the opening song from You Still Here, Ho? The set was minimal—just background video screens projecting colorful animations and two backup dancers—but Flo Milli’s personality and apt ego took up the entire stage. I’m not a fan of Irving Plaza’s layout; it was difficult to see her throughout the show. However, she danced across the stage frequently so I was able to get glimpses of her each song. Milli’s signature high pitched, lively voice was even clearer in person. By the time she got to “Like that Bitch,” a fan favorite from her first album, Ho, Why Is You Here? the entire crowd (including me) was singing along word for word. When the first beats of “Beef Flo Mix” came through the speakers, I was taken back to the summer of 2020 when my best friend and I memorized all of the words during a road trip. There was nothing quite like the energy of 1,000 20-year-old girls screaming their heads off to the song that made Flo Milli a star.  

About halfway through the show Flo Milli brought out Monaleo once again to perform “We Not Humping-Remix,” which Milli is featured on. After, rap duo Girll Codee came onstage as special guests to do a call and response with the audience during their fast paced single “Chaa Chaa Chaa.” Rapper Maiya the Don followed Girll Codee with a performance of her energetic new song, “TELFY”. Although the audience participation was fun and both Girll Codee and Maiya the Don were great performers, this halftime show felt like an unnecessary break in Flo Milli’s show. After three openers, the show started to feel more like a festival than a headlining tour. It was an already short show and I would’ve rather heard more Flo Milli songs that got cut—like my personal favorite “Pussycat Doll”—than songs from surprise artists.

After her guests, Flo Milli brought back the energy with the recently viral sensation, “Conceited.” Its booming bass and rhythmic high pitched flows make this song an instant earworm and even more fun to sing along to live. Throughout the second act of her show, Milli made a point to come into the audience and dance with her fans. It felt like she was partying with us, not at us. It was clear that she was having the time of her life, giggling after her comical lyrics like: “All you do is talk shit / Like a toilet with some lips,” from “Weak”. In my opinion, it’s this colloquial vocabulary that makes Flo Milli such a great lyricist.

The show finished with Milli’s biggest song to date, “In the Party.” Its bouncy piano line, playfully boastful lyrics, and dynamic ad-libs made it a perfect closer that summed up the night. “Flo Milli shit, ho. Flo Milli shit,” she raps as the lights cut off. The silence is met with overwhelming applause. Flo Milli shit indeed.