Russ, who was once just a SoundCloud rapper, now is on tour with no headliners, showing even his skeptics that he has what it takes. His first Columbia Label album There’s Really a Wolf went platinum and his sophomore album ZOO has the potential to do so as well.

On Friday, Russ took the stage at the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Connecticut, and the crowd was not shy. Oakdale was his first stop of the ZOO tour. I watched him and the rest of the crowd light up as the rapper took the stage.

Russ opened with his first new song off the album called The Flute Song and immediately the crowd was drawn in.

The opening lyrics “I do whatever I want whenever I want I love it. People keep talkin’, I just keep winning,” has become a motto for Russ. The rapper who has gained a lot of supporters has also been constantly criticized. As Russ stood high on the stage, I looked at my friends as the fire was blazing behind him ready for the next couple of hours.

From the new album, Russ sang his most popular songs including The Flute Song, Missin’ You Crazy and Serious.

“Sometimes I start missin’ you crazy ain’t nothing quite like you, love like this keeps going and going, I cannot forget about you,” played with a soft beat behind is then brought in with a heavier sound, but the song itself sounds like it has an old twist to it, an old but easy to vibe to ring.

His new songs brought enjoyment to the crowd, but bringing back the old gems brought life. My all-time favorite, Cherry Hill, blasted throughout the theater. The song is emotional. Russ calls himself a “fool” throughout the whole song but states he would give anything for this girl is the backbone to the lyrics. The verse is calmer, while the bridge builds, leading into a dramatic chorus with the beat dropping, guitar and drum filled amazement.

I have always liked Russ’ more intimate songs including Ride Slow where the beat itself is soothing and again has an upbeat chorus. I personally feel the lyrics of his songs, so Ride Slow is a song that takes you on a journey and makes you feel like you’re experiencing his own issues.

A car driving with lights illuminating Russ was on stage while he sang, “I’ve been tryna soak you up, maybe learn something. I said I would never chase but you keep on running. You know all of my ex’s, you think I still do too. I just had to change my number. but I’ll never lose you. I just got back into town, I’m just tryna unwind. Let me ride around your mind.”

Losin’ Control, another deep, slower, but powerful song was sung with the crowd’s cell phone lights in the air swinging back and forth for those to feel the impact the song had.

For those who didn’t want just the emotional aspect of Russ, he sure delivered. What They Want, another one of Russ’s most well-known songs is about his stardom, what people demand of him and expect of him. Russ also sang his old SoundCloud songs to bring the audience down memory lane.

Russ doing the tour all on his own without any headliners delivered the greatness the crowd was anticipating.