Cora Perkins, Assistant Spectrum Editor
Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor
Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger rang in her inauguration weekend to the flow of Virginia Beach rapper Pusha T — along with over 40 local artisans, small business, food vendors and other musicians who bridged the 757 to the 804 for a “Made in Virginia Market.”
Spanberger — who will soon be sworn-in as the first female Governor of one of the oldest governments in the western hemisphere — danced along to a mixture of old bangers and new hits by the five-time Grammy-nominated rapper.
The governor-elect won the November election by over 15 percentage points, the largest Democratic win in the Old Dominion since 1961. She first teased Pusha’s performance during a 4 p.m. speech, which she walked out to while “All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled played.
“They wouldn’t let me use that one until we actually won,” Spanberger joked to the crowd.
Spanberger’s team’s vision was to celebrate the inaugural weekend by celebrating all the places and people that make Virginia unique, she said. It was not about any one person, but rather all Virginians.
All the different vendors being present gave the community an opportunity to shop with and get to know business owners, according to Natalie Accilien, owner of Jadore Jolie Boutique.
“Whatever you like, you will find something that’s tailored to you,” Accilien said.
The festival was rife with dancing and laughter from the afternoon to far past sunset as the clock ticked until Pusha’s performance.
Other artists primed the stage, including Hampton Roads hip-hop talent TeezySoDope, all-female Chesapeake band SynHERgi, Richmond jazz band ELONCE and Richmond folk band Høly River.
Spanberger came out again at 7:30 p.m. and wasted no time introducing Pusha. He was backed by Yoo Q, the DJ for him and his brother Malice’s duo Clipse. The two were discovered by legendary 757 producer-megastar Pharrell Williams during the 1990s.
“We’re here to celebrate history,” Pusha told the crowd. “We’re here to congratulate Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.”
Virginians from across the state flooded 17th Street Market to catch a glimpse of the performance — many of them rapping along to the beat.
“It’s so good to see everybody out here,” Pusha said. “Everybody’s so enthusiastic about the change man. We love it.”
The rapper floated through older Clipse tracks like “Grindin,” early 2010s collabs like Kanye West’s “Mercy” as well as songs from Clipse’s critically acclaimed 2025 comeback album “Let God Sort Em Out.”
At one point Pusha rapped the expanded, remixed version of Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like” — which Spanberger seemed to really enjoy — before it was cut short about 45 seconds later. Spanberger hugged Pusha tightly before and after he went on stage.
Pusha T’s full setlist
- “Grindin’” — Clipse (2002)
- “Popular Demand (Popeyes)” — Clipse (2009)
- “If You Know You Know” — Pusha T (2018)
- “Chains & Whips” — Clipse (2025)
- “Ace Trumpets” — Clipse (2025)
- “So Be It” — Clipse (2025)
- “Mercy” — Kanye West (2012)
- “I Don’t Like” — Chief Keef (2012)
- “So Appalled” — Kanye West (2010)
“I’m here for the vibes,” said excitedly smiling VCU student Chandler Golden. “Like it’s really nice. I’m glad that he’s supporting this too.”
Richmond native Nick Carter came out to the show because he wanted to see Pusha, though he said it was cool to see Spanberger too.
“I’m not the most political person, but I like Spanberger,” Carter said.
Carter thinks Spanberger — who touted her agenda to lower the cost of living, housing, healthcare and energy — will be good for Richmond. He hopes for more funding for public schools in the city.
Spanberger is set to be inaugurated at Capitol Square in downtown Richmond. As she put it: “Tomorrow is gonna be a new day.”