Live Review: Kendrick Lamar, Tuka

Thundamentals' Tuka gets the vibe in the room up as a mix of shorts, snapback, chino and loafer wearers pack into the sold out venue to hold their spots for tonight's headliner. He gets hip hop heads grooving to Die A Happy Man and then with a “make some noise for your mum!” breaks the stillness with the lively Just To Feel Wanted as his DJ scratches off to end the set.

With a roar that can be heard all the way to the smoking alley outside, the mere presence of Kendrick Lamar in his parker and printed shorts ignites life into the unified crowd as the soulful brass sample of Hol' Up soars above each raised hand. He has everyone grooving and nodding to each word of P & P then takes some time to mention “I'm from Compton… but I managed to survive with music” which gets big-ups from not only the pioneers but surprisingly from most of his younger listeners too.  After A.D.H.D. has every voice chanting back “Fuck that!” he asks the obvious question of “Is anyone familiar with [debut album] Section 80?” which then has the entire venue spitting back every word to The Spiteful Chant. By this time bodies are on shoulders – and not just ladies' either. Lamar decides to “start with my fave record” as Brisbane continues to impress the West Coast rapper jamming word for word to Money Trees. Seemingly inspired, he goes even harder for Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe which has everyone jumping to his flow and still keeping up lyrically. He lets the venue take a breath and sincerely says “y'all been here since day one so take this shit and pass it along” as he hands out water bottles from his stage supply.

Lamar blasts back into the set as everyone fills in each “Uh” of Dre's verse of The Recipe. His crisp delivery of Swimming Pools actually has the venue listening to his verses only raising cans to “Drink!” then everyone jumps back on track for Maad City. Lamar simply exits with a “Y'all are the loudest motherfuckers in this joint. No matter how big I get I'll always come back” then encores with ScHoolBoy Q's Hands On The Wheel before another swift walk out. The second set of “Keeen-drick!” has him out shaking hands with front stagers and then just silently absorbing the energy as the venue starts up the encore chant again. He then busts out HiiiPower with as much precision and gusto as he has been giving throughout the evening. With a “Brisbane niggaz ain't nothing to fuck with… I promise I'll be back!” Lamar ends the triumphant night for hip hop unification, leaving everyone feeling thankful to have witnessed his talent at its raw peak.