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Monday, May 5, 2008
Kanye West Lands In Duluth
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hip-hop phenom Kanye West finally brought his live show to his Atlanta fans Sunday night, and while his Glow In The Dark tour may feel a little past his latest CD’s expiration date, his concert was something light years from now.
Whatever epoch his visually arresting stage show was set in, apparently it was not a time when anyone other West (above) needed to be on the Arena at Gwinnett Center stage — as his incredible band was set just underneath him in an orchestra pit, and in all black. Apparently it was also not a time where any other recording artists should make an appearance with him — as the only person who joined West was opener, rapper Lupe Fiasco on one of the closing tunes, “Touch The Sky”. And apparently it was not a place much on typical audience banter either — as the only time West seemed to kind of acknowledge where he was was during “Good Life”, when he changed the chorus to “The good life — it feel[s] like A-Town/it feel[s] like A-Town/it feel[s] like A-Town!”
The capacity crowd, however, had no problem acknowledging West, as it remained on its feet almost the entire concert as the 10-time Grammy winner gave what felt like a breathless, almost athletic 90-minute performance. And again, it was just him in a kind of urban, universal soldier get-up; his spectacular, crashed-space-ship stage outfitted with everything from movie-like lighting, white and yellow flame blasts to an unnecessary (and unfortunate) near-naked plastic woman; and a three-CD catalog made up of some of the biggest hits (“Stronger,” “Gold Digger”, “Through The Wire”) of the past four years.
The first highlight may have come a mere half an hour in, when he went into the chorus of the DJ Toomp-produced “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”, the house lights came up, and seemingly everyone in the arena was singing “Naaaaa/Naaa/Na-na/ Wait til I get my money right!”
And even with the lights lowered it was hard not to spot the numerous music (Chris Brown, Bow Wow, Musiq, Scar), music industry (Quincy Jones, Jermaine Dupri, Chaka Zulu, Shakir Stewart, Phillana Williams, Catherine Brewton, DJs Nabs and Doc, Rico Brooks, Ricardo Spicer, Keinon “Sleep” Johnson, Ron Hurd), TV (Kenny Burns, Ryan Glover) and sports (Jamal Anderson) stars in attendance.
The dynamic West more than made up for the lack of energy in Rihanna’s 30 minute-plus set, which the widely diverse audience mostly stood and watched like it was a fashion show. (And to her credit, the singer - in fishnet stockings and a tight, black, short, leather one-piece with hot pink piping — was certainly fashionable).
Perhaps Rihanna was just worn out from the N.E.R.D. show that preceded hers, where producer/recording artist/singer/pin-up Pharrell Williams’ ensemble surged through their lesser-known singles with the kinetic energy of a punk band.
And where West was clearly “the biggest star in [this] universe” — as that unfortunate plastic woman “told” him during the show— Rihanna, the eye candy, and N.E.R.D. the electric current, timely opener Fiasco was hip-hop at its best, and most basic: Just him, a DJ, and something thoughtful to say.
Were you in the capacity crowd last night? How would you rate the show? Do you think he and Rihanna should have toured when their latest CDs were hotter, or did Glow in the Dark feel timely to you?
