[Global Grind] Before last night, the last time Kendrick Lamar performed on a Brooklyn stage was in September, at Williamsburg Park in front of six thousand people or so. Kendrick’s “Control” verse — in which he called out some of hip-hop’s most popular MCs, while proclaiming himself “the King of New York” — was still a major conversation point. It’s safe to assume that some in the crowd came to the show anticipating that Kendrick would perform the verse, or, at the very least, acknowledge some of the rappers who had been sending shots since the Big Sean song leaked in early August.
Last night was Power 105′s annual Powerhouse concert at the Barclays Center, the first time the show has been held at this venue. Kendrick Lamar was back on a Brooklyn stage, closing the event.
The question is: should he have been?
The quick answer is yes. Out of the younger guys, he’s the one universally loved by all hip-hop fans. His debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, is not only recognized as being a masterpiece, but it’s a real hit, scanning platinum earlier this year.
But, if you really start to think about it, it’s not clear anymore.
People who come to these types of concerts want to hear the smashes, so these shows are driven by acts that deliver consistent radio hits, something Kendrick hasn’t done during his short reign.
That could explain the somewhat cold reaction he got during most of his closing set. Bulks of people were leaving, even as he was trying to perform reliable tracks like ”Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice.”
The only time when the show became lively again was when the young Compton MC brought out hometown girl Lil Kim, who did “Crush on You” and “All About the Benjamins.” (If you were one of the rappers involved with “All About the Bejamins” you’ll be able to rock a New York City crowd for the rest of your life. Fact.)
Now compare Kendrick’s set to Meek Mill, who performed earlier in the night (and who let it be known he wasn’t feeling the early 8 o clock time slot he received.) Easily the most electric moment of the night happened when he came out to the dramatic “Intro (Dreams and Nightmares).”
Here’s what made Meek’s set remarkable: he was moving the crowd mostly with newer mixtape cuts off of his Dreamchaser 3 tape — he didn’t even perform “Amen.“ Tracks like ”Make Me,” “Heaven or Hell,” with Jadakiss, and “Lil Nigga Snupe” were all well received.
Meek’s show reached a ten when he brought out Nicki Minaj to do another Dreamchasers 3 standout, “Dope Deal.” Nicki then stayed around to do a short run of her more rappity-rap songs.
It’s really as simple as this: this a audience that listens to the radio, and they want to her a familiar voice, and over the last couple of years, other than Drake, no new guy has been on the radio more than Meek Mill.
It’s not surprising that other Power 105 regulars had a strong night: 2 Chainz had a particularly fun set, strutting around the stage playing every classic 2 Chainz-featured song you could think of; Trey Songz would go from sweet to vulgar in his surprisingly entertaining show; and NYC veteran Fabolous proved he still had major pull in this town, performing a number of classics (“Breath,” “Make Me Better”) mixed in with some not so-classic newer songs, “When I Feel Like It.”
Speaking of Fab: there was a moment when the Brooklyn rapper sorta responded to Kendrick by saying Biggie was the only “King of New York.” The crowd loved it.
That wasn’t the only time the “King of New York” thing would come up, either. Kendrick would close his set by spiting a new verse where he rapped a couple of barbs about the title.
He had to do something.
PHOTO SOURCE: Wenn/ Getty
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