Though it often hosts performances, the Edge — the sky-scraping out of doors commentary deck and membership 100 tales and 1,130 ft above New York Metropolis — shouldn’t be actually often called a live performance venue.

However as a part of Samsung’s multi-faceted partnership with red-hot rapper Doechii — who was named “Hip-Hop Disruptor of the 12 months” at Selection‘s 2024 Hitmakers celebration — round its new Galaxy S25 Edge telephone, the Edge was the setting for not solely a brief however highly effective livestreamed efficiency on Friday night time, your entire place was tricked out as a “swamp within the sky,” crammed mock-tropical surroundings (enjoying off of her frequent alligator theme), full with jungle crops and plenty of dry ice.

In a double-take second, we noticed advertisements for Doechii’s Samsung partnership on the subway trip to Hudson Yards, the mini-megalopolis the place the Edge is situated — and much more surreally, as we arrived on the Edge, after a quick elevator trip the place your ears pop a least twice, there was fog exterior the venue, as if the dry ice had been someway leaking out of the home windows.

After all, that was really a cloudy entrance transferring in, which made for some San Francisco-like views as fog shrouded town’s skyline and solely the tops of the tallest buildings poked via the clouds.

That was the scene inside as a number of hundred specifically invited fabulosos attired in “informal stylish” mingled and sipped on the free drinks and snacks served by the wait workers. Shortly earlier than 8 p.m., the doorways to the commentary deck had been opened and the attendees streamed down the illuminated stairs resulting in the deck. Music thumped via the highly effective audio system as specks of rain fell from the sky, however fortunately the intense rain held off till a lot later within the night.

Lastly, after Edge staffers had dried off the double-height steps main right down to the stage set on the fringe of the commentary deck, the old-school beat of “Peanuts” kicked in and Doechii appeared on the prime of the stairway, clad in a billowing beige jacket, matching excessive socks and spike heels. She and DJ Miss Milan spat verses backwards and forwards because the rapper labored her manner down the towering stairs, with every step about two ft beneath the following — not a straightforward factor to do whereas rapping in spike heels, however she pulled it off with out a hitch. (Watch a music from the efficiency close to the top of this video.)

Doechii steadily made her manner via the group to the stage, swaggering via “Denial Is a River,” “Nissan Altima” and one or two others earlier than making her exit. Some had been stunned that she didn’t play “Anxiousness,” her largest hit, however the set centered on high-energy songs and that one’s gradual tempo would have introduced down the vitality. (Plus, though artists not often play full live performance units at occasions of this nature, one couldn’t blame her for wanting to complete earlier than the rain moved in.)

And with that, the group walked again via the faux-everglades and lined as much as catch the elevators again right down to the bottom flooring and actuality… or no matter passes for actuality within the city-sized megamall of Hudson Yards.