With the smell of incense heavy in the air and smoking billowing from the stage and even more from the crowd, Kendrick Lamar proclaimed, “This isn’t a show, this isn’t a concert, this is an event, ” as he took to the Lollapalooza stage yesterday. He delighted fans and brought them to their feet with his big bass introspective and explicit rhythms along with a live band.
Lamar returns to Chicago after being at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park last year where he was being watched by Lady Gaga. This year the California-based rapper showcased his commanding way with words performing “Backseat Freestyle” and “Money Trees” off his 2012 album, “good kid, m.A.A.d. city.”
In between getting the crowd to “Raise one arm! Raise two arms!” and “Put your cell phones up,” a moment that can only be described as humanity happened. One wheelchair bound fan took to the air as his fellow festival goers aided him in crowd surfing. Lamar looked over, pointed and smiled. As he started his next song, another wheelchair bound fan, Rick Guardino, took to the air as well. At that point, Lamar was stunned and stopped. and eventually he invited both men right up to the edge of the stage saying let them see this. Guardino described the moment as “amazing.” He explained that his friend told him, “You’re going up tonight” right before getting a fellow fan to lift him in the air. Earlier Guardino took to the air for the first time during the Nine Inch Nail set at Lollapalooza. This time was different because Guardino, who has met Snoop Lion, was told that he would have a chance to meet Lamar. He went on to joke that he couldn’t wait and is also looking forward to crowd surfing tomorrowat 2 Chainz’s set.
Finishing the night, Lamar let go with a powerful performance of his single “Swimming Pools (Drank).” He then showed how he got to where he is today and where he is going by closing with some deep compelling acapella verses.
-Melissa Unger
