ASH ISLAND Brings K-hip-hop to Downtown Dallas on His ‘Voice Memo: Black Rose’ World Tour
Written by Samantha Firmin | September 10, 2025
Before there was K-pop, there was K-hip-hop. The subgenre of South Korean music draws its influences from American hip-hop and has risen in international popularity over the last decade. One of the artists making his mark on the scene is rapper and singer-songwriter Ash Island. His initial recognition came from his participation in High School Rapper 2, a popular survival hip-hop show, and later signing with the Ambition Musik label. In the past year, Ash Island parted ways with Ambition, launched his own label, Midnight Records, and released his fourth studio album, Voice Memo: Black Rose. To support the release, the rapper has also embarked on a world tour under the same name, with Dallas serving as the fourth stop of his North American leg.
ash island
Despite the sweltering heat and the concert falling midweek, fans gathered eagerly outside the Granada Theater an hour before doors were set to open. Inside, VIP ticket holders were treated to a soundcheck, where the rapper—dressed in a casual all-black ensemble—chatted with fans and appeared visibly relieved when some of them spoke Korean. He also performed an exclusive song before going backstage to finish getting ready.
A rather unusual aspect of this tour was the lack of merchandise being sold. After entering the venue, there was little for the audience to do aside from finding the best place to watch the show. In no time, the lights dimmed, and Ash Island burst through the curtains lining the back of the stage, kicking off the night with Drop Top. He donned a silver sequined jacket with matching pants and commanded the stage with energy that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Fans were treated to a setlist that spanned his entire discography and showcased his impressive artistic range. His show flowed like a wave, shifting between high-tempo, hard-hitting tracks such as A Star is Born and “멜로디 (Melody),” to more melodic, mellow songs such as “괜찮아 (It’s Okay)” and Rose in the Heart. His performance of OST especially stood out because of its genre shift, which transported the audience into the feeling of a K-drama—just as the title implies. Ash Island shared, “This might be the most lovely song I’ve ever made,” referring to the sweet track that also features his wife and fellow rapper, Chanmina.
With a setlist of over 30 songs, it was no surprise that the singer took frequent breaks between performances and used them to talk with fans. Despite the language barrier and lack of a translator, he still managed to express his appreciation. In a heartwarming moment, he said:
Honestly it’s been a tough time lately, but standing on this stage tonight you’re giving me so much strength. I will remember this moment forever and I hope you feel the same.
For the latter half of the concert, the singer reset the mood by changing into a black version of his previous outfit. The crowd was incredibly energized during rap-heavy tracks like Band and Grand Prix, where Ash Island made his way to every corner of the stage, leaning against the speakers to get closer to fans. At one point, the crowd’s relentless energy had the singer exclaim while sipping water, “Hold on a sec, you guys are crazy!”
As songs began to slow back down, the end of the concert drew near. Ash Island brought his main set to a close with One More Night, which featured a beautiful display of phone flashlights swaying through the air. Then, as is tradition at many Korean artists’ concerts, chants for an encore brought the singer back on stage to serenade the crowd with Black Rose and Promise Me. The final moments of the night were filled with selfies, heart poses, and visible gratitude, as Ash Island wrapped up a performance that clearly meant as much to him as it did to his fans.
