Review: Kendrick Lamar at Birmingham’s Genting Arena
Kendrick Lamar has put together a once in a lifetime show to mark what is likely to be regarded as the high point in his career in years to come.
The Compton rapper’s tour to accompany the DAMN. album, which was released in 2017 to critical acclaim and huge commercial success, is nothing short of spectacular.
Packed with powerful pyrotechnics and compelling re-workings of the 30-year old’s back catalogue, while radiating the sense that you are witnessing a gig like no other, the only term that can be used to describe the show is ‘must-see’.
The second date of the DAMN. UK tour saw the multi Grammy winning superstar come to Birmingham’s Genting Arena, filling the space with 90 minutes of pure entertainment that’s production value is currently unmatched in live music.
After a 1970s style video short telling the background story to ‘Kung Fu Kenny’ – a pseudonym used by Lamar throughout DAMN. – the man himself rose from a platform beneath the stage, dressed head to toe in black robes, looking half regal martial artist, half hip-hop prophet.
He fired into DNA - sparking wild scenes from a crowd ready for an evening of loud, life-affirming music on a Friday night.
ELEMENT and King Kunta, from the incredible To Pimp A Butterfly, followed, each accompanied by a more expressive light show than the song before.
This continued throughout the evening, the bar always being raised from one song to the next.
Whether it was the dirty, brash Backseat Freestyle, the touching LOVE or the euphoric Money Trees, the classics kept on coming with relentless pace and startling frequency.
The DAMN. tour is a statement from Lamar that, much like with his albums, his live shows are all about the details.
From the placement of the Kung Fu Kenny video segments throughout, to the subtle and effective use of dancers or the frequent use of the “ain’t nobody praying for me” mantra that permeates throughout the DAMN. album, it felt like nothing was left to chance.
As a live spectacle, it could be put alongside Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense, where the band's live performance didn’t just bring songs to life, but became something different and incredible in its own right.
It felt truly special to be in the audience, perhaps similar to how it must have been seeing Prince in his pomp or even the likes of David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust days.
The mood of the arena was under Lamar’s command at all times and you could also draw similarities with James Brown in terms of the hard-work that clearly goes in to making sure every beat and detail is just right.
Despite being relatively early in his career, with just four full albums under his belt, it feels as though Lamar has achieved all there is to achieve in the music industry.
It is hard to see where he can go from here, but if anyone can find a creative way to solve that problem, you would bet your house on it being Kendrick Lamar.
