How LaRussell Turned a LA Backyard into Hip-Hop Therapy

LaRussell capped off his 2025 Backyard LA Residency with back-to-back two-hour shows on Saturday and Sunday — both started right on time. I hit the Sunday set, walked in about 15 minutes late, and the party was already in full swing. LaRussell had the mic in hand, the band was locked in, and the backyard crowd was vibing.

It was one of those perfect LA afternoons — 70-something degrees and partly cloudy, the kind of weather that makes you grateful to be outside soaking up music. LaRussell rocked a Jeff Gordon/Dupont-inspired Good Compenny hoodie, and fans in the crowd matched the colorway, from hoodies to hats.

One thing that made this show stand out — it was fully improvised. No set list, no pre-planned beats. The band played off-script, reimagining the music so every song felt brand new. It was like hearing your favorite tracks for the first time. LaRussell also kept the energy personal. He took questions from the crowd — at one point, a little girl asked when his birthday was. Instead of just answering, he flipped it into an impromptu song. Moments like that captured the spirit of the afternoon.

He even passed the mic around to the audience, inviting fans to share their art — poetry, records, whatever they brought to the space. One standout moment: a mother and her three daughters performed a women’s empowerment rap written by the mom. You could tell they’d practiced — it was a beautiful moment of family, community, and creativity.

Of course, Tietta — LaRussell’s Swiss army knife — stepped up to share poetry as well.

The backyard was packed, giving off the feel of a true house party. Picture a rectangular space with a porch, turf on the ground, and fans sitting criss-cross applesauce in front of a slightly elevated stage.

As a personal fan of LaRussell, this was my third show in three months — from the SXSW nightclub set, to the BET Experience, to this backyard residency. Each one felt completely different. Sunday’s backyard experience had people shedding tears — kids, adults, even LaRussell himself.

Throughout the set, he showed love to his crew. He called up the architect who built the pergola stage and saluted him for building the LA setup. He shouted out his engineer, saying he’s watched him continue to level up over the years.

Even the viral Bay Area harpist known for flipping hyphy classics was part of the band. The whole afternoon felt like a musical therapy session — the kind of vibe people seek from sound bowl experiences. This was that, in hip hop form.

LaRussell still has more shows lined up at his Vallejo property and pergola. And he’s liable to pop up anywhere in the country for a set. If you ever get a chance to experience one of his backyard residencies, trust me — it’s well worth it.