Alicia Keys, Lil Uzi Vert & More Rule Tidal X's Rock the Vote Benefit Concert

On Monday night (Oct. 21), TIDAL X hosted its annual benefit concert at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, with this year’s show was dedicated to empowering the next generation of voters for the 2020 election. As part of a partnership with Rock The Vote, 100 percent of net ticket proceeds and donations will go to supporting the cause of influencing young people to use their political power.  

“This TIDAL event every year is special. We bring top artists from all genres and bring them on one stage for a great specific cause, and this year it’s voting,” TIDAL’s freshly appointed chief content officer Elliott Wilson told Billboard on the black carpet. “The most beautiful thing is, everybody does it for the love. There’s no big bag attached to this, so everyone doing this believes in the culture, the cause, and giving back. I’ve seen that fight, and we’re very powerful people and no matter how frustrated we get, we can’t lose sight of that.”

The star-studded night, which was hosted by Miss Dominican Republic 2015 Clarissa Molina and media veteran Angie Martinez, featured over 20 artist performances and surprise guests, including H.E.R., Fat Joe and Flipp Dinero. The lineup represented a wide range of talent stretching across many different genres, cultures, and age groups; hip-hop newcomers like Lil Tecca and Lucky Daye, Latin pop artists like Becky G, CNCO, and Farruko, and superstars like Alicia Keys all came together to empower the next generation of voters. 

Keys, the woman of the hour, took the stage during the middle of the show to many people’s surprise, as she was assumed to be the closing act. She performed her hits “No One” and “Girl On Fire,” and also dedicated her performance to the late hip-hop legend, The Notorious B.I.G. 

“I never got to rock with him,” she said as she smoothly transitioned from her own rendition of Biggie’s “Juicy.” “So this is like a dream for me.” 

As attendees were enjoying the performances, they were often being reminded not to lose sight of why they were all there in the first place. In between sets, TIDAL and Rock the Vote displayed facts about topics such as immigration and voter laws, as well as some prerecorded videos from the artists themselves encouraging viewers to use their voices and make a difference. Tables were conveniently set up throughout Barclays Center for attendees to register to vote. 

To wrap up the nearly five hour-long concert, Lil Uzi Vert sauntered onto the stage as the closing act. He pumped up the crowd one last time by performing songs like “The Way Life Goes,” “New Patek,” and his mega-hit, “XO Tour Llif3.”

The show is available in full for TIDAL subscribers to watch now.