Warning: This is mostly a rant. You have been warned.
I hate when artists perform unreleased music. I'm not talking about a song or two. I'm talking about an entire set. I'm talking about songs from an unreleased album that you haven't heard, which means there's the possibility that they won't be any good. There's the possibility that you won't like it. I don't like spending money on things I don't like.
First off, It's super awkward. How are you supposed to react to it? I've always felt that shows are a personal experience. You go to listen, dance, and sing (or rap) along to your favorite songs. At least that's what I do. When a new song is being performed all you are able to do is stand there and awkwardly wave your hands in the air like you just don't care, but you
actually do. If it was up to you your hands would be in your pockets fumbling through change
or updating your Facebook status on your cell phone ("At show."). Hands can be utilized for other useful endeavors besides being suspended in the air against their will. If my hands are going in the air there should either be (a) a gun to my back or (b) my jammy-jam bumping though the speakers. my hands up just because, homie. I ain't putting Also, what if it's wack? The crowd would look like the following picture. 
The reason I bring this up is because I went to a Blu show and he performed only new material from his upcoming albums called "No!York". Don't get me wrong it was a dope set, but it would have been nice for him to give his fans what they paid for (to be fair he did perform "Blu Colla Worker"). Although some fans were yelling out "Below the Heavens" (which I will get to later), the man didn't budge. He kept on going through his set.
Typically I'm a pretty rational hip-hop head, which means that I understand it would be fucking mind-numbingly boring to perform old material strictly to please the masses. I understand that. I honestly do, but I still think artists have an obligation to give the fans what they want. I think an artist can create music that doesn't compromise their artistry just for the sake of giving fans what they're already familiar with and still make them happy. Take Nas for example. Artistically Nas is always pushing the envelope, but the three times I've seen him (in three different years) his sets hardly changed (except of course for whatever singles he had out at the time). Although he still puts out great albums, he knows why the fans are there. They wanna hear Illmatic. That's what pays the bills.
But really, I understand. Artists have to grow. Blu doesn't want to be known as the Below the Heaven guy or that dude that did that album with Exile. He wants to expand artistically. The reason Nas has embraced peoples love affair with Illmatic is because it is a cornerstone in hip-hop music. It's hard to ignore that album. It will forever define (but not necessarily limit) Nas' career.
Now, the fans. Some fans are just assholes. Although I specifically go to shows to listen to my favorite songs, I know that the artists is gonna play whatever the hell they want. Some fans think the're in a fuckin' jukebox. Although I hate to stand through a set of new music, I don't think I'll become that idiot in the crowd screaming "play folk music!" When Dylan performed in the 1965 Newport Folk Festival they weren't ready for his hybridized version of folk and rock. His fans were outraged. But in the end what ensued was a revolution.
Sometimes new isn't that bad.
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