December shows have a funny way of feeling like punctuation marks, full stops at the end of long sentences. On December 19, 2025, the sentence ended with a thunderclap at the Fillmore Auditorium, where Joey Cool, X-Raided, King Iso, and Tech N9ne turned the venue into a pressure cooker of sweat, bass, and raw intent.

For a last show of the year, this one hit like a victory lap, not just to watch, but to shoot. The lighting was unforgiving, the crowd alive in that restless, excited way, and the artists brought the kind of energy that makes photographers forget their knees hurt and their backs are screaming.

Joey Cool opened the night with sharp precision and confidence, moving the crowd like a seasoned conductor. His delivery was tight, his presence undeniable, and the room locked in early, always a good sign. There’s no filler with Joey, just momentum.

X-Raided followed, carrying weight in every bar. His performance felt lived in, heavy without being stagnant, commanding without needing spectacle. The crowd absorbed it and you could feel the respect filling the room.

Then, King Iso came out swinging. Iso’s sets always feel personal, almost confrontational in the best way, like he’s dragging something honest into the open and daring you to look away. His energy was relentless, passionate, and emotionally charged, pushing the room right to the edge before snapping it back into rhythm.

And then there was Tech N9ne.

Forty years in, and this man still moves like time owes him money.

Tech didn’t just headline, he owned the night. His performance was explosive, chaotic, a masterclass in stamina and showmanship. Every verse landed. Every movement mattered. There was no sense of nostalgia here, no coasting, no slowing down. Just a veteran artist proving, yet again, why his name is etched so deeply into hip-hop’s underground spine.

Watching Tech N9ne command a room after four decades isn’t just impressive, it’s down right humbling. The passion is still there. The hunger is still there. And judging by this set, he’s nowhere near finished.

As the final notes rang out and the lights came up, it felt right, a perfect way to close the year. Loud, honest, relentless. If this was the final exhale of 2025, it was a damn powerful one.

Follow Tech N9ne on Social Media
Facebook – Twitter/X – Instagram – Spotify – Youtube