Kendrick LamarThe Astor Theatre: a classy art deco building with aquamarine walls and cinema-style seats, a rare witness to the booming sub-bass of Kitpop's abstract hip hop. With a taste for the darker end of street culture, he deployed a bevy of self-styled remixes and cold-hearted bangers. Attempting something a little more populist, Aslan started off in a similarly menacing vein, tried out some mellow West Coast flavours before twigging that the surest way to energise this crowd was with vintage rabble-rousers: Cypress Hill, Joe Budden and the like.
“This ain't a concert,” Kendrick Lamar announced to a delirious, barely contained mob, “it's a motherfuckin' party.” If it really was a party, then Lamar is an exceptionally gifted host. In trying to convey the idolisation witnessed tonight, it's worth considering that there are two types of popular: there's 'generally well liked across the board' popular and then there are those who can inspire full-on hero worship. Right now, Lamar could probably start his own cult. He doesn't even need to open his mouth; just by standing on the edge of the stage he ignited a roar from the crowd so physical that it was a credit to the architect that the noise pressure didn't lift the roof off. As such, it's hard to recall a reception as intense in recent times for any act.
A set full of highlights, Lamar was aided by a crowd equally receptive to material from the – until fairly recently – obscure Section.80 record as they were his breakthrough LP, good kid, m.A.A.d city, the likes of Hol' Up getting just as much call and response action as Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe. Gripes? Okay, a little one – vanity might be endemic in hip hop, but given how everyone was able to sing all the choruses of the good kid, m.A.A.d city album word for word, there was really no need to enquire whether anyone over here “likes it”, especially having just witnessed the pandemonium his delivery invoked during Backseat Freestyle. As the night drew to a close, we collectively toasted his success with his anthem to alcoholic trials and tribulations, Swimming Pools (Drank), before Kendrick carefully considered his final words. “However deep I get,” he paused, “I will always come back to this.” Look forward to seeing you again soon Mr Lamar.
