Golden Tickets, Poutine and a Gift Card to Chilli’s: Welcome to a BBno$ Show!

If you didn’t already know, this Vancouver-based artist’s self-titled world tour made its last Canadian stop this past Saturday. “It’s Pronounced BABY NO MONEY” is a play on the internet’s constant mispronunciation of his stage name. I, too, am guilty of such violations. It wasn’t until OSHEAGA 2023—seeing him live for the first time—that I realized how wrong I’d been to insist on calling him BB-NOS.

Experiencing the concert as both a fan and from a more critical angle was exciting. I have to be honest—it wasn’t the most polished, industry-professional show I’ve been to, but it also wasn’t as chaotic as I expected. The best way to describe it is that I walked in as an outsider but left feeling like part of the BBno$ family. The show felt surprisingly intimate—so much so that I forgot we were in MTELUS. While it’s not as massive as the Bell Centre, it’s still a large venue. Let me explain.

The show began with DJ Dan, the hype man introducing each act and dropping some mad ad-libs throughout the night. Opening for that night was Jungle Bobby, a fellow BC-based electronic hip-hop artist. His style isn’t what I typically seek out, but that didn’t matter. Despite his outlandish fit and psychedelic vibe, he was one of the best openers I’ve ever seen. He brought the energy, got the crowd moving, and had us raising our hands in the air, forming hearts and peace signs as we chanted:

“This is not a CULT; This is not a CULT—

This is a FAMILY; This is a FAMILY!”

If this was a reference to his art, it flew over my head, but I participated nonetheless. He ended his set with his newest release, Just a Feeling—a perfect closer after his uplifting message about spreading love and peace in these tense times. He truly made the audience feel something other than the excitement of seeing one of your favourite artists live, it evoked something deeper than just a feeling.

When BBno$ finally graced the stage, an intro video played. With MTELUS’ brand-new video wall—launched less than a month ago on February 20th—the visuals made the show even more interactive, letting us experience his artistry beyond just the music. The intro was a chaotic, hilarious compilation: clips of people mispronouncing his stage name, bizarre internet moments, and colorful imagery of himself. You had to be there—describing it wouldn’t do his humor justice (and might be a little inappropriate for this platform).

He came out rocking a snazzy Canadian tuxedo, opening with It Boy, performing both old and new songs. Between each track, he’d pause to chat before making a smooth transition into the next. Even though the music would stop, the screen would fade to black, and the stage lights would come on, it never felt choppy—it felt like a listening party, something similar to CJLO’s own.

At one point, he pulled a fan onstage to play the role of Yung Gravy for C’est La Vie, Goodness Gracious, Whip a Tesla, and Welcome to Chili’s. Afterward, he sent Jenna (the lucky fan) back into the crowd $25 richer—in the form of a Chili’s gift card.

The show never had a dull moment. There were Willy Wonka themed QR code contests encouraging people to buy merch for a chance to win a golden ticket (entry to a future concert), a random signed cookbook giveaway (something he does at every show), and even a one-on-one poutine-eating contest hosted by his friends to entertain us during his ‘pee break.’

But my favorite moment? It wasn’t the nostalgic throwbacks to his older music or even the lighthearted Canadian vs. American banter. It was his performance of Meant to Be.

A slower, more emotional track, Meant to Be is a departure from his usual rap-heavy, upbeat style. While BBno$ may not have the strongest singing voice in the industry, his delivery felt raw and personal. He seemed to momentarily disconnect from the crowd, getting lost in his own world. Behind him, the MTELUS screen illustrated the song’s story in the aesthetic of Diary of a Wimpy Kid—a clever and unexpected touch.

I hope there’s no record of me saying this in previous reviews, but honestly? This was one of the best concerts I’ve been to. Despite not knowing a single person in that room, I couldn’t have felt further from alone. 

Feeling FOMO? Don’t worry—BBno$ is coming back to Montreal! More importantly, he’s returning to OSHEAGA 2025 on Saturday, Day 2 of the hottest music festival in the city. Don’t miss out—I know I won’t!