Conceived within the confines of a prison cell, the creative vision for YoungBoy Never Broke Again (NBA YoungBoy)’s Make America Slime Again (MASA) Tour had been taking shape long before it hit the road. Founder and Designer at WastedPotential, Chadrick Fellers, along with Lead Designer, Zach Berget, delve into the creative process behind the tour – from ambition to fruition.
“This is basically NBA YoungBoy’s first ever tour with legitimate production,” Fellers said. “It was interesting as we had this massive production finalised way before the tour was even routed.”
Production vendor, Fuse Technical Group, Gallagher Staging, and Pyrotecnico were enlisted by production to help create a replica of NBA YoungBoy’s childhood home, a local cemetery and, in keeping in the theme of nostalgia, his living room.
“We take fans on a journey through Baton Rouge, a place that means so much to him,” Berget commented. “It is a story of NBA YoungBoy returning home for the first time in a long while, and when he returns, there is an abstract phenomenon happening.”
The WastedPotential team collaborated with Gallagher Staging, continuing their decade long working relationship, to develop the scenic elements of the production. “One of my favourite things about working on a set is that they are completely unique to each artist; whether it’s something personal or meaningful to them, it is uniquely theirs,” Berget said. “We come up with fabrication ideas but when it comes to putting it together and making sure it is tourable we must rely on great vendors to support us in that regard, and Gallagher have been nothing but supportive.”
Fabricated across Gallagher’s La Mirada and Nashville facilities, the project combined foam carving, CNC machining, traditional carpentry, aluminium and steel welding, and detailed scenic painting to achieve a cinematic on-stage world. The centrepiece, a full-scale house that splits and flies apart mid-show, was supported by multiple integrated lifts and flying systems. Gallagher also created additional custom elements such as a sculpted tree, telephone poles, and a replica statue from the artist’s hometown.
“Our goal was to make every piece feel alive,” said David Chin-Feldsberg, Design and Project Manager at Gallagher Staging & Productions. “Seeing the initial renderings come to life on tour – especially the house split and the automated lifts – was incredibly rewarding for our team.”
Berget and Fellers attributed the arena tour trim heights and space to the fact that they were able to go above and beyond with the staging design, while not forgetting the hard work of Production Manager, Victor Reed & his GEP team on the road. “Victor is a great production manager, he really pushed for things that made the whole process smooth and successful. Massive thanks to him for helping turn this all into a reality” Fellers said. “He was a game changer in making sure the show was ready to go before doors opened.”
As well as the set design, video and lighting were a crucial element to the show, WastedPotential chose ROE Visual CB5 LED panels for video because of their robust nature.
Among lighting fixtures chosen were Robe MegaPointes and Spiiders; GLP JDC1s; TMB Solaris Flare LR Q+s; Martin Professional Jem ZR45s, while MDGFog ICE FOG Qs and theONE TOURING CRADLEs provided atmospherics. Berget noted the importance of the “brightness” of Solaris Flare LR Q+s output brightness and ability to cut through and highlight haze emitted from a selection of MDGFog ICE FOG Q units.
Pyrotecnico provided 1,175 Flashtubes with Bang & Spark, four Galaxis G-Flames with Flame Bars and six G-Flame Units, 12 Cryo Jets, and four Freeze Fogs. “We love getting behind an artist’s vision and bringing it to life. That meant turning arenas into full-on experiences that hit every sense. Every night, our seven-person SFX crew was on it, making sure every cue connected with the moment,” Pyrotecnico’s Rocco Vitale said. “What makes this work special is the trust and collaboration. We support the music, bring it to life with flames, flashes and fog. The effects are important, but it’s really our crew’s experience and attention to detail that keep everything flowing from the load-in to finale. We appreciate the confidence YoungBoy’s team placed in us to help turn the unexpected into the unforgettable.”
Fellers also extended his appreciation to the NBA YoungBoy team, mentioning Andrew Lieber (MAC Agency), Dre Davis (TM), Kevin Puig (Tour Director) and Alex, Fee, and Montana from management. “It was a real collective effort to get this project from inception to fruition and I am so grateful for everyone involved,” he said.
Now that the tour is up and running on the road, Fellers reflected on his favourite moments from the show, including the automation element where the replica childhood home breaks into two and unveils the inside of the house. “When the house lifts up, we have a virtual NBA YoungBoy ripping it apart,” Fellers said. “It is a really cool moment, and Zach and the team worked hard to integrate it perfectly into the show.”
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Words: Alicia Pollitt
Photos: Henry Ammann
