The Music Tank

While other rap artists were redefining and challenging the use of contemporary slang terms (I’m pointing towards you, Nas) others, like Kanye, were working on their craft and linking themselves with creative people to elevate the status of what a hip-hop show is about.

By adding fellow partners-in-rhyme Lupe Fiasco & N*E*R*D, Kanye quickly solidified his fan base. What is that Kanye? You want to fill a hundred arenas and tour around the world? Lend a call to Jay-Z to book you Rihanna.

While the pop-princess status of Rihanna could well overshadow the presence of Lupe & Pharrell’s gang, none of this seemed to be. Lupe Fiasco started the show, ripping the mic and the arena with an incredible stage presence. Not everybody is fit for stage acrobatics. Maybe the skater in Lupe came out a bit. He performed a few of his hits; Daydreamin’, Go Go Gadget Flow, Hip-Hop Saved my Life, Kick-Push as well as the most acclaimed “Superstar”.

I’ll only say it once, the transitions between sets were god awful. Roadies mounting up numerous instruments for an average 40 minutes intermissions between acts is painful. The music in the arena wasn’t loud enough to make you forget you were actually waiting. In the end, it paid off though.

N*E*R*D were next to perform and quickly set the pace to what was an energy-driven set. Opening with an exclusive “Seeing Sounds” album cut, the group quickly took the crowd to familiar territory with “Rockstar” and never looked back. They made a good choice of playing old album songs with the new singles. “Lap dance” “Brains” “She wants to move” all made it before Pharrell burned it down with “Everyone Nose” & “Spazz” to which a dance-off was thrown and Chris Brown joined to school everybody how to spazz, if you want to.

The next act was Rihanna. I think you figured out already that I wasn’t thrilled about her presence, although necessary to fill up the arena. I won’t even get into her performance as I didn’t see it but from word of mouth, she gave a good show and played most of her hits including that a song medley ranging from M.I.A. to Lauryn Hill.

Last call for alcohol

Kanye prepares to hop on stage. Lights off and blasting I should say. The show starts slowly with a few piano keys and a star-studded sky while Kanye gives us an intro to his “intergalactic mission to explore the universe in search of creativity”. Kanye is said to be alone with his spaceship-computer “Jane” as they embark the last part of their quest.

Kanye first appears on stage with a sunrise in the background and Jane at the forefront and opens with the incredible “Good Morning”. Boasting from that, we get a sense of what is to come. Kanye constructs a magnificent show in which he interacts with Jane in interludes before coming back with more songs. The stage represents an accidented planet as rocks and smoke cover the entire area (although the stage reserves us a few surprises). The sci-fi movie feel draw the spectator into a concept show that still allows itself to making stops in different universes.

It is clear that “Graduation” was constructed as an album with a logical path from start to finish. From “Good Morning” to “Homecoming”. It is also clear that the Glow in the Dark show is constructed on that same frame. And while the track listing is highly reminiscent of the album and the overall concept, Kanye still manages to fit in party anthems like “Good Life” and “Gold Digger” and street-savvy songs like “Cant’ Tell Me Nothing”.

The set pieces were incredible and the smoke effects and lighting really made an impact on Kanye’s solo performance because, while having musicians disguised in black beneath the stage, Kanye looked to be alone in his spaceship. Only Lupe Fiasco came on stage after Kanye’s “Homecoming” to perform “Touch the sky”. Closing ceremonies included a monologue by Kanye talking to the crowd on his ego-maniac character only to explain us that this (the show) is why he acts a certain way and wants to be perceived.

So no CRS songs performed but can you blame the guys? This is a show you’re unlikely to see again as Kanye and his creative cohorts elevated the standards for what any music show, let alone hip-hop shows, can bring to the table.

The comments of the Glow in the Dark tour were based solely on the May 20th show @ the Bell Centre in Montreal.

Here are some videos I’ve recorded at the show. If the Glow in the Dark tour comes near you, please go see the show!

The intro to the Kanye’s performance…

N*E*R*D footage