DJ Sonz in San Francisco, CA 05.10.25 Photos by Yasmeen Lee

Last night’s show featured Lil Kayla and DB.Boutabag wasn’t just a concert—it was a showcase of rising Bay Area talent and the energy of a new generation of fans ready to turn all the way up. With a lineup stacked from top to bottom, each act brought something different to the stage, making the night feel more like a community-powered function than a standard tour stop.

Lou Deezi in San Francisco, CA 05.10.25 Photos by Yasmeen Lee

The night kicked off with a run of strong openers that set the tone right. DJ Sonz held it down on the decks, keeping the crowd warm between sets and making sure there was never a quiet moment. 1100 Himself and Mitchell followed with performances that felt personal and hungry, exactly the kind of energy you expect from local artists on the come-up. Lou Deezi’s set, in particular, got a lot of crowd reaction, with heads nodding and fans catching onto his lyrics quickly.

By the time Lil Kayla hit the stage, the crowd was ready—and she gave them everything they came for. Dripped out and confident as ever, she opened with “K Nasty” and the room erupted. Her delivery was sharp, her crowd control was tight, and whether she was performing older tracks or newer drops, people were locked in. Her presence on stage was commanding without trying too hard—she simply is that girl.

Lil Kayla in San Francisco, CA 05.10.25 Photos by Yasmeen Lee

What made Kayla’s set stand out wasn’t just her bars, but the way she connected with the audience. The crowd skewed young, but they were dialed in—singing along, throwing hands up, and letting loose. There was a sense of pride in seeing someone from the Bay representing so hard, especially a woman who’s paved her lane in a male-dominated scene. She’s not here to play nice—she’s here to dominate, and last night, she did.

DB Boutabag in San Francisco, CA 05.10.25 Photos by Yasmeen Lee

Closing out the night was Sacramento’s own DB. Boutabag, who wasted no time making his presence felt. He stormed the stage with “1st Off” and immediately brought the tempo to a new level. His performance was all energy—no fluff, no filler. The crowd responded in kind, with mosh pit energy brewing in the middle and phones out capturing every moment.

DB’s set felt like a celebration of grit. There’s an urgency in his voice when he raps, like he’s got something to prove—even when it’s clear he already has. Songs like “Stop Playin” and “No Hook” hit with extra weight live, and by the end of his set, he had the whole venue bouncing.

There may have been no joint performance between the two headliners, but their presence back-to-back spoke volumes. Lil Kayla and DB.Boutabag are two distinct voices from different ends of Northern California, but last night, they stood on the same stage and showed out for the culture.