Riding high after releasing his sophomore album “Set It Off” in 2023 while still mourning the death of Takeoff, his close friend and co-founder of the recently split, groundbreaking multi-platinum-selling Georgia collective Migos, Offset has embarked on the Set It Off tour, his first ever headlining tour across 17 cities. On March 23, he will perform at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, along with Skilla Baby, Sleazyworld Go and YRN Mango Foo.
Chicago was one of Migos’ earlier stomping grounds in its career. Offset, whose real name is Kiari Cephus, has fond memories of performing at the now-shuttered hip hop club Adrianna’s.
“Chicago was one of the first cities that started showing the Migos love, man,” Offset said. “I love Chicago because guess what? That’s where my folks at.”
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The Set It Off tour is Offset’s creative brainchild. He’s invested his own money into its creation and production in order to go above and beyond the typical rap show. It’s about taking himself to the next level as a solo artist and showing everyone the complete scope of his creativity and versatility as an artist. He wants to go beyond his beloved work with Migos and show that there’s more to him than his contributions to trap music, per classics like “First 48,” “Add It Up” and “Bad & Boujee” with Lil Uzi Vert.
“The story I’m telling is the story of me developing myself as a solo act and just to show people how creative I can get and how far I can take it,” Offset said. “I’m trying to take myself out of that box of just a ‘trap artist.’ I want people to respect me as an artist.”
Putting together the tour is also healing for him. Now he’s able to set everything up to his liking and speak as freely as he wishes. For instance, the Michael Jackson references on the show’s promo and album cover art aren’t just a publicity stunt and fans can look forward to him dancing throughout the show.
“I’m hands-on with everything,” he said. “And as an artist that’s the best thing to have is creative freedom.”
Musically, the “Clout” rapper says what allowed him to stand out from his former group members Quavo and Takeoff is the depth in his music, addressing topics that are relevant to the everyday person as displayed on his 2019 debut, “Father of 4,” with songs like “Red Room” and “Legacy.” He considers his first album to be ahead of its time, balancing themes like overcoming negativity and abject poverty to being a father of four children and being a husband to Cardi B while in the public eye. It was also an introduction to who he is as a man, as he was raised with the teachings of his mother and uncles.
“You got to be able to talk to people to make them feel like, ‘damn bro’s going through what I’m going through,” he said. “You can’t be too farfetched because the glitz and glam, that’s only a small percentage of those people, especially Black people, we struggle a lot. You don’t have to be an artist, you don’t have to be a person that’s super-rich. But putting your truth out there, letting people know that I make mistakes too, I think that’s more respected.”
Amid a chaotic music climate fueled by extreme online stans on social media, Offset tries his best to rise above the noise.
“It’s like growth and development. Getting older and being thankful and grateful for the position you’re in because, at first, I was young, getting to the money. I appreciated it, but I didn’t see the hard work that I put in myself. Now I acknowledge the hard work I put in,” he said. “And to be in the game so long, that comes from consistency, and obviously it’s working.
Set it Off tour is 8 p.m. March 23 at Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave.; tickets at concerts.livenation.com