With the backdrop of the sun fading behind the horizon, dozens of Jidenna’s fans waited in a line outside The Promontory that stretched down the block and around the corner. Earlier that day, the singer posted on Twitter that he would be in Chicago to host the listening party. When he wrote that doors open at 7 PM, his fans made sure to be there by 6:30 PM.
The line consisted mostly of Black Chicagoans, particularly women. The wide range in hues of skin, personal style and other physical characteristics illustrated Jidenna’s prowess as an artist. Since his 2015 hit, “Classic Man,” Jidenna has garnered the mass appeal of Black folks across the diaspora. In 2016, he made his sizzling acting debut on Issa Rae’s hit HBO show, Insecure, which only contributed to his rise in fame and sex appeal.
While waiting in line for the rest of her party to arrive, Chicago resident Vanity May told The TRiiBE that she heard about Jidenna’s listening party through a friend. Surprised by the turnout, she cited “Bambi” and “Classic Man” as her favorite Jidenna songs.
Although May hadn’t yet heard his newest album, she was eager to hear Jidenna’s latest project.
Meanwhile, Walter Fisher was one of the few Black men in the listening party line. He learned about the event on Twitter earlier in the work day. He’d previously saw Jidenna perform in Chicago several years ago.
He said his favorite Jidenna songs are “Tribe,” another single from 85 to Africa, ‘Chief Don’t Run” and “2 Points.”
“It was just a freestyle of him just being hard, being confident and just saying, like, ‘This is me. This is where I stand,’” Fisher said about the “2 Points” track.
Fisher’s been following Jidenna’s career for a while now. He appreciates Jidenna’s message of defining what it means to be an Afro-futuristic Black man in today’s world.
“I think he really represents how a Black man should carry himself in the world,” Fisher added.
Shortly after 8:20 PM, Jidenna took his place next to the DJ booth, where he explained the meaning behind some of the tracks from 85 to Africa before singing along to each song, including “Sufi Woman,” as the DJ spun them.