On Monday, November 4th, Lexa Gates hit Chicago to kick off her Elite Vessel tour, and she did not disappoint.
When the Elite Vessel album and tour were announced, I immediately dove back into Lexa’s discography. She’s been on heavy rotation in my playlists ever since I discovered her 2022 album Universe Wrapped in Flesh. There’s something about her flow, that deep tone, and her beat selection that really draws me in. But what really hooked me was the raw, vulnerable storytelling in her lyrics. Songs like “Delusional” and “Selfish” became instant favorites because they felt real like she was letting us in on her personal thoughts, insecurities, relationships and frustrations. It’s that authenticity that makes her music so enjoyable.
Elite Vessel takes that honesty even further. Lexa is embracing vulnerability not as a weakness, but as a powerful force. Lexa shows that being open about your struggles is what makes her an “elite vessel” in her own right. The way she channels this into such beautiful, melodic raps really makes her stand out.
That mindset was front and center on November 4th when she took the stage at Chicago’s iconic Subterranean. As the crowd chanted her name, Lexa made a graceful entrance, descending the stairs and walking up to a stage decorated with a blank white tapestry and a small table holding a vase of roses. She flashed a warm smile, setting the tone for a performance that more than lived up to the hype.
Lexa gave the crowd exactly what they wanted, blasting through songs from Elite Vessel like “I Just Can’t Be Alone” and “Sweet… Time”. She also treated fans to some classic tracks from Universe Wrapped in Flesh, including “Rotten to the Core” and “The Person I Was Before”.
One of the best moments of the night came after she performed Stacy’s Chips. Lexa playfully stood on stage, demanding someone bring her some chips. After a long wait, the chips were finally delivered, and Lexa threw the bag of chips into the crowd, going just over my head into the hands of a lucky fan right beside me.
Lexa Gates is truly something special. She’s a beautiful artist and a great storyteller, unafraid to bare it all. That raw, bold energy is what made her performance unforgettable. The Elite Vessel tour is more than just a show; it’s an experience—a celebration of strength, vulnerability, and everything that makes Lexa Gates an elite artist in her own right. I’m grateful to have witnessed it firsthand and even more excited to see that Lexa’s just getting started.