Memorial Day is a holiday that typically gets somewhat overlooked. With it being in close proximity to the Fourth of July, it usually doesn’t geta fair amount of attention/appreciation. My 2025 Memorial Day was spent differently than usual as I had the opportunity to attend an underground rap show titled “ILL America” that was put on by Ill Underground. This entertaining show morphed my casual Sunday into a spectacle worth remembering.
In a city known for its music scene, both mainstream & underground, there never seems to be a dull weekend in the warm months of ATL if you enjoy live music. In fact, with ATL being a melting pot due to its rich culture and diverse population, there is just a wide genre of performances to pick from, built to satisfy true music lovers. This sentiment bears a lot of weight to Ill Underground as they are both extremely consistent with throwing shows and putting a big emphasis on putting the spotlight on all types of artists. While this wasn’t my first show of theirs that I have attended, this show left an even more lasting impression that they are continuing to raise the bar even higher with every event.
From beginning to end, “ILL America” did a lot to maintain my attention throughout the duration, compared to most underground shows. As someone who has attended a plethora of similar shows, there was an influx of good vibes that made it feel like a dope environment. From the venue staff, the host, and all the acts, everyone was on the same page about bringing an abundance of great energy to the night to make it feel like fun yet safe space.
On the performance side, it’s hard to say which artist had the best performance, because they all brought something different to the table to make their performance stand out. There were some artists that perfected the art of crowd interaction like Sawyerjeorge and made the audience feel like they were a part of the show. But then there were artists like the headliner, Sajalie that delivered on all angles, and elevated their performance to pure artistry with the use of live instrumentation.
All-in-all, “ILL America” was a well-prepared concert that was worth every penny. I was having such a good time that I genuinely forgot that it was Sunday/Memorial Day.
Connect with Ill Underground on Instagram: @illunderground_
