He’s a proud Compton kid to be sure, but last night, as Kendrick Lamar played the first of two shows in one evening at Roseland Ballroom, the rapper ingratiated himself with the crowd in a way that would have made the casual observer swear he was born and raised an East Coaster.
“This is like my second home,” beamed the 25-year-old, and he made continued attempts to prove his love for New York City by coaxing the 3,000 fans to out-scream their Californian counterparts and even tossing in a mid-set solo version of “F–kin’ Problems” by rising Harlem star A$AP Rocky.
There may have been a hint of Lamar employing such standard devices to get the crowd on his side, but when playing live, the spirit of the East Coast pervades his sound, too.
On stage, the frequently laid-back flows of last year’s gangsta-rap chronicle “good kid, m.A.A.d city” give way to a much harder-edged delivery.
The smell of weed inside the venue was strong enough to floor an elephant, but Lamar seemed immune as he spat out the rhymes to tracks such as “Look Out For Detox” with a speed that seemed to defy physics, and a booming tone that sounded as serious as a heart attack. Definitely not material for the softies.
His recent mainstream success has caught many off guard, but Lamar’s command of events showed the newcomers that his is no overnight success.
Rather, it’s something that he has worked on quietly and diligently for years. His shift to and from a capella segments was masterful, and watching him orchestrate the audience into singing “Backstreet Freestyle” and the Lady Gaga collaboration “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” hinted at an arena-sized future.
And yet, for one someone with so much prowess and so many prospects, Lamar is unusually — and refreshingly — humble in his attitude. “Thanks to y’all, ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’ is on its way to being motherf–kin’ platinum,” he exclaimed toward the show’s end with an excitement that was almost endearing.
A million sales is certainly an achievement for a debut album, but if he continues turning in these kinds of performances, he’s going to need a real second home in which to put all his platinum discs. May we suggest a nice little place in downtown Manhattan, Kendrick? We’d love to have you here for real.