By jasmine lecesne | may 30, 2025
It should be no surprise that fans packed out Echostage in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday night for the long-awaited return of St. Louis rapper, Smino. It’s common practice to make time to see your family when they visit your city, and this show was no different.
Affectionately named the “Kountry Kousins Tour,” it only takes a matter of hours for the concert hall to transform into something akin to a Black family reunion – fans in the crowd recognize friends and move to give each other hugs, compliments, and wide smiles. There’s no sense of competition here about who may be the biggest Smino fan or who can push through the crowd to stand at the barricade. The energy is high, and as Samara Cyn takes the stage to open the show, the love felt in the crowd is reflected back at her.
Samara moves seamlessly through her set, skillfully using the full length of the stage to engage with the audience. The crowd loves her, and as she abandons the stage to stand on the barricade, they welcome her with open arms. iPhone flashes light the room towards the end of the set and Samara leaves with a message that feels equivalent to a conversation with an older cousin, encouraging everyone to “keep going” on their creative endeavours.
The anticipation grows with each passing minute, and just as it threatens to boil over, the lights dim. “Knock, knock, knock… loud knockin” blasts through the speakers as Smino appears, coming through the door of a house set up on the stage. As he raps, he observes the sheer magnitude of the crowd before him, stating “y’all sound so beautiful” as he takes it all in. It can be hard to feel connected to an artist with a fanbase as big as his, but something about this night feels intimate and sacred. As Smino cycles through his expansive discography, he often stops to make sure fans are okay and that no one has passed out, with a reminder every time that “we’re family here and we look out for each other”. He even relays a story about his first school talent show, how his grandmother encouraged his participation, and how he still feels his connection with her even though she is no longer living. As someone who knows what that feels like, I felt the weight of the words and the meaning they held. This tour was special not only for fans, but for Smino himself.
As intentional and spiritual as this night felt, it was not without its own enjoyable chaos. While it seemed like the audience knew every word to every song, fan favorites like Wild Irish Roses and Z4L had the room buzzing with a physical energy – so much so, you could feel the ground bouncing as they jumped. Smino seems to have felt it as well, and as the show ends with the encore song Amphetamine, he bids fans an emotional thank you and farewell.
I stay on the balcony after the last song ends and watch as Smino takes the time to sign vinyls, hats, and other merchandise for fans at the barricade. In true Black family reunion fashion, he said a goodbye just to stick around a little longer. As a long-time casual fan, it was his infectious melodies that initially drew me in. I guess as a new family member, I’m obligated to stay a little longer as well.
Jasmine LeCesne is a freelance photojournalist for Majestic Music Magazine. See more of her work here
