An Unconventional Venue Choice
Although the Edge – the towering outdoor observation deck and club situated 100 stories high, precisely 1,130 feet above New York City – occasionally holds performances, it certainly isn’t primarily recognized as a standard concert venue. However, as a key element within Samsung’s wide-ranging partnership with the incredibly popular rapper Doechii – who received the “Hip-Hop Disruptor of the Year” honor at Variety’s 2024 Hitmakers event – promoting its new Galaxy S25 Edge phone, the Edge became the chosen location. Consequently, it hosted not only a brief but impactful livestreamed performance on Friday night; moreover, the entire space underwent a remarkable transformation into a “swamp in the sky.”
This thematic shift played directly into Doechii’s recurring alligator motif. Accordingly, the venue was completely filled with mock-tropical scenery designed to evoke a jungle atmosphere. Specifically, numerous lush jungle plants were arranged throughout the space, accompanied by generous amounts of billowing dry ice fog, creating an immersive and otherworldly environment high above the city streets.
Surreal Arrival Moments
The experience began even before reaching the venue, creating moments worthy of a double-take. For instance, advertisements promoting Doechii’s Samsung partnership were visibly displayed during the subway ride towards Hudson Yards, the modern mini-city development where the Edge is prominently located. Even more surreal, upon arrival at the Edge’s base after a rapid elevator ascent – a ride intense enough to make your ears pop at least twice – fog unexpectedly shrouded the outside surroundings. Initially, this seemed as though the copious dry ice inside might somehow be leaking out through the windows. Of course, this was actually a natural weather front moving in, producing an atmospheric effect reminiscent of San Francisco, where thick fog enveloped the famous skyline, allowing only the very tops of the absolute tallest buildings to pierce through the dense cloud layer.
On the other hand, the venue on the top floor of the high-rise was crowded with hundreds of guests who were specially invited and were all enjoying a “casual chic” dress code that was quite comfortable to move around in. They enjoyed complimentary drinks and various snacks efficiently served by the venue’s wait staff while awaiting the main event. This pre-show gathering buzzed with anticipation high above the cloud-covered city.
Descending to the Deck
Shortly before 8 p.m., the large doors leading directly out to the expansive outdoor observation deck were finally opened. Consequently, the excited attendees began streaming down the brightly illuminated stairs that wind towards the deck itself. The performance begins with loudspeakers that generate voluminous music in the air, therefore forming the rhythm for the evening. Even while minor drops of rain were gently falling from the cloudy sky, luckily, the heavier, more serious rain did not appear at all until some time later in the evening; such conditions, of course, made it possible for the performance to continue as scheduled.
Finally, after diligent Edge staff members carefully dried off the double-height steps descending toward the stage positioned right at the perimeter of the towering observation deck, the distinct old-school beat of “Peanuts” suddenly filled the air. Consequently, Doechii dramatically appeared at the very top of the lengthy stairway. She wore a noticeably billowing beige jacket, perfectly matching high socks, and sharp spike heels, creating a striking visual silhouette against the skyline backdrop.
Immediately, Doechii and DJ Miss Milan launched into an energetic exchange, rapidly spitting verses back and forth directly to each other. Simultaneously, Doechii began her deliberate journey down the exceptionally steep, towering staircase. Each individual step was positioned approximately two full feet below the previous one, creating a significant challenge. Navigating this demanding descent while simultaneously rapping complex lyrics in precarious spike heels presented a major physical test. Remarkably, she executed this difficult maneuver smoothly and without any visible hitch, maintaining her flow and stage presence flawlessly throughout the descent.
Moving Through the Crowd
After successfully reaching the bottom of the stairs, Doechii gradually worked her way through the dense gathering of excited attendees, confidently heading toward the main stage area. She maintained high energy, swaggering powerfully through performances of her tracks “Denial Is a River” and “Nissan Altima,” along with one or two additional songs. Following these selections, she promptly made her exit from the stage. Meanwhile, some audience members expressed surprise that she omitted “Anxiety,” her most commercially successful hit to date.
However, the chosen setlist deliberately prioritized high-intensity, fast-paced songs to sustain the event’s vibrant atmosphere. Including the slower tempo of “Anxiety” would inevitably have diminished the overall energetic momentum she had carefully built. Furthermore, while artists rarely perform full concert sets at promotional events of this specific nature, no one could reasonably fault her decision to conclude the performance efficiently. Naturally, she likely aimed to finish before the anticipated heavier rain arrived and potentially disrupted proceedings.
Ultimately, with the performance concluded, the assembled crowd began walking back through the elaborately constructed faux-everglades environment. Attendees then formed orderly lines, patiently waiting to board the elevators for the descent back down to the ground levels and everyday reality. Alternatively, they returned to whatever version of reality exists within the vast, city-like expanse of the Hudson Yards megamall complex far below the clouds.
