In a humid, sweaty, and sweltering Underground Arts, Steven Markowitz, more commonly known by his stage name Hoodie Allen, put on an incredible performance.  He showcased his talent and charisma, making it a night that the crowd surely would not forget.

The concert, a part of the Hanging With Hoodie Tour, was made special by his meet and greet with every member of the 500-person crowd. He chatted to die-hard members of the “Hoodie Mob” (his fan club), signed everything from merchandise to a ticket stubs, and smiled for every picture. When he finally came up to the microphone and started with the song “Small Town,” the crowd went wild, and for obvious reasons. He was consistent, putting in every ounce of effort he had, no matter how scorching the temperature. He asked the audience for suggestions and rapped it with them, offered the mike to some fans, and gave the audience a special treat by throwing cake into the crowd after performing “Cake Boy.” By the end, the sweaty masses were screaming their lungs out for encores, and sure enough, he came out and performed his newest hit, “Show Me What You’re Made Of” and arguably his most famous song, “No Interruption.”

What made the concert unique was his authenticity. Not many artists tell the crowd how honored or privileged they feel to be performing for them. However, his humility shone through, and what he put in he definitely got out.

Earlier this year, he announced he would be going on a world tour after the release of his debut album. For the fans’ sake, as well as those who simply enjoy some good showmanship, hopefully Hoodie will bring his talents back to Philly soon.