LA-based rapper 2Hollis’ Montreal performance, supported by Nate Sib, felt like two lives colliding—the life of his mysterious, magnetic stage presence and the relentless energy of his crowd’s mosh pit.
With eager fans wrapping around the block hours before showtime, genre-bending rapper 2Hollis’ first solo tour was already turning heads. On Saturday night, downtown passers-by couldn’t help but gawk at the quickly growing crowd—decked out in extravagantly baggy jeans, bandaged noses, all-black outfits, and even darker eyeliner. His cult-like following and influence on fans’ style are impossible to ignore, even before the hyper-pop-turned-rap artist steps onto the stage.
2Hollis’ (or, more affectionately known as “2” by his devoted followers) long-anticipated North American tour, his first solo show in Canada, culminated in a sold-out spectacle at Montreal’s iconic venue, Club Soda. Supported by rising artist and impressively accurate Justin Bieber look-alike, Nate Sib, the performance was everything fans had hoped for—an electrifying, high-energy light show straight out of the TikTok's that fueled their excitement in the weeks prior.
As the line slowly shuffled inside, the intimate venue filled with fans snapping selfies, grabbing drinks, and stowing their winter coats in anticipation of the inevitable mosh pit. By 8:45, the lights dimmed, the room dissolved into maroon smoke, and the crowd shrieked—the first of many for the night. Like a well-rehearsed ritual, Nate Sib, a close friend and frequent collaborator with 2Hollis, burst onto the stage. Singing his hits, like “Down” and “Hold On,” Club Soda’s balcony trembled as fans’ energy grew. Between songs, Nate flitted on and off stage, his dark shades, black wife beater, and signature bangs captivating the hungry audience. Red, blue, and white lights reflected off the walls, transitioning into white spotlights that covered the stage, while blinding strobe lights flickered at the end of his performance—almost like a ritualistic prelude, setting the stage for 2Hollis’ imminent arrival.
When the lights flickered back on after his performance, the crowd’s energy shifted—somehow even more ravenous than when the show had begun. Like a desperate prayer, the room pulsed with a single name: ‘2Hollis! 2Hollis! 2Hollis!’ As the lights dimmed once more, flickering back into strobes, their messiah finally appeared—white locks glowing, ethereal vocals cutting through the mist. Jumping up and down as he entered, 2Hollis commanded the entire stage, alternating between wild headbanging (“FORFEIT” and “say it again”) and frantically sprawling across the floor for slower songs (“teenage soldier”). The venue’s simultaneous light show—each song shifting between red flashes, strobe bursts, and sharp white triangular beams—only fueled the crowd’s frenzy.
2Hollis’ impressive setlist, packed with fan favorites like ‘Gold,’ ‘Sister,’ and ‘Crush,’ also featured newer tracks like ‘Afraid’ (with Nate Sib jumping back on stage for the final song) and ‘All of the Lights,’ a track sampling the Kanye West original. The deafening music, sweat, and heat of the venue formed a perfect altar for the mosh pits now synonymous with Hollis’ brand. Without fail, the pit crew carved out space at the start of each song, assembling the crowd into an almost singular body of fans; the climax of each song a make-shift mecca, and a clear culmination of the crowd’s raw, newfound power.
Competing against the crowd as its own living entity, Hollis’ performance on stage was nothing short of that of a true pop star; a hyperpop-EDM rapper whose enigmatic presence controlled the sea of bodies with just a twist of his torso. With nothing more than “Thank you” and “I love you,” the mysteriousness of Hollis stayed intact while also serving as the ideal deity for fans to bow down to, believe in, and celebrate. A religious experience, the holiness of a 2Hollis show ensures devoted fans keep buying tickets, praying he visits Montreal again.
Written by Shayana Shimansky
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