Kendrick Lamar’s Triumphant Return to New York
Kendrick Lamar is coasting. The rapper dropped one of the most celebrated albums in hip-hop last year, good kid, m.A.A.d city, and he just released its second video (for the Drake collaboration "Poetic Justice"). Last night, as part of Hot 97's Five Boro Takeover in New York, the young MC performed two back-to-back, sold-out shows at Roseland Ballroom – his first gig in the city since packing the much smaller club S.O.B.'s awhile ago.
Backstage at Roseland, the energy is low before showtime. Manager Dave Free buzzes around, prepping production and security, while Kendrick zones out on a sofa until a few fans are brought backstage for a meet-and-greet. Some familiar faces pop in to wish him luck, including DJ Jasmine Solano and blogger Ashley Outrageous, but the green room is no star-studded event. . . yet.
By MATTHEW TRAMMELL
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No Translation Necessary
"I just got back from Europe," Kendrick tells Rolling Stone. "We were all over for, like, two months. There was no sun! And the food was terrible. But the fans out there are great. They don't understand one word of English, but when I drop 'Money Trees,' they're all right along with it. It kind of tripped me out. I wrote these songs in a kitchen in Compton!"
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Off and Running
After Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg delivers his intro – "In my opinion, this is the greatest young artist doing this hip-hop thing right now!" – Kendrick Lamar storms the Roseland stage. The trademark nasal smirk from his record becomes a raspy growl as he powers through "Westside, Right on Time" and "Hol' Up" to set off the night.
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Boy in the Hood
Months on the road in front of mostly-new fans have affected Lamar's stage presence. He works every edge of the crowd, and his movements are sharp and emphatic. Drips of bicoastal, 1990s-era influence hang heavy over the show; the 25-year-old Compton native invokes Tre Styles of Boyz in the Hood while rocking a NY cap inspired by Casper from Kids.
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Second Home
The sold-out, all-ages crowd is entranced; this is Kendrick's first New York show since he released his debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city. The air is electric. "This is like my second motherfuckin' home!" Kendrick shouts, and the crowd responds enthusiastically.
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Real Chemistry
Lamar brings out his Black Hippy affiliate Schoolboy Q to tear through "Hands on the Wheel" and "m.A.A.d city." They share a palpable chemistry onstage, bouncing lines back and forth and thrashing in unison. Q finds time to crack some jokes: "K. Dot, you gon' chill with a n***a or what? Album dropped and you out here all Hollywood now. I can't even kick it with the homie!”
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Water (Drank)
Lamar works up a sweat and grabs water bottles from the crew toward the end of the first show. Despite the grueling schedule, he's eager to perform both sets. "I'm just excited," he mentions backstage. "I think the energy is gon' be crazy out there. Haven't been out here in a little while."
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Black Hippy Is Completed
Ab-Soul and Jay Rock join Lamar onstage to round out the Black Hippy family. The crowd isn't as familiar with their individual material, but the crew is comfortable together despite being such distinct personalities; Ab-Soul floats around the stage behind black shades and wild hair, while Jay Rock booms with the presence of an elder statesman.
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Ladies Love K. Dot
It may come as a surprise, considering his hybrid backpacker/gangsta rap vibe, but scores of rain-soaked girls waited for Lamar's show in a line that stretched down Broadway. Inside, shrieks more apt for an R&B heartthrob ring out when he launches into "Poetic Justice," and some particularly focused young ladies slither their way to the front row. Kendrick gets a bit more direct after "Hands on the Wheel," saying, "Yeah, you heard me right, I might fuck tonight! Oh, word? That’s how you feel? I got some rubbers in my pocket right now!"
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Rocky Joins Lamar
A$AP Rocky is all grins backstage before he joins Lamar for a surprise performance of their runaway posse cut "Fuckin' Problems." The two MCs have both enjoyed a rapid ascent in the past year with their breakout albums.
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Packing Into the Green Room
The green room gets a bit more hectic as crews and press pour in. A$AP Rocky speaks for the cameras before hitting the stage.
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Ready to Go Again
Later that night, Kendrick is rested and ready to re-up for his second Roseland show. Security stays close by as a few photographers snag last-second shots.
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50 Swings By
The night's biggest surprise guest, 50 Cent, descends on the green room to give Kendrick his best. A Dr. Dre/Aftermath alumnus himself, 50 giving Kendrick the stamp of approval feels pivotal to all in the room.
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50’s Return to Rap
After spending the past few years venturing into executive roles at his label and launching several products, 50 seems poised to step back into the arena and revamp his rap career. New material has streamed out steadily, and if there's anything that 50 is good at, it's getting folks talking. His surprise set at Roseland is the most anticipated of the two shows among those in the know.
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Showstopper
A$AP Rocky ignites the crowd when he emerges for "Fuckin' Problems." The two MCs feed off the immense energy of the crowd, swinging through the uptempo anthem for misogynistic stunting. It's hard to tell which moment gets the bigger reaction: Kendrick's "Girl, you know you want this dick!" or Rocky's "At least a n***a n***a rich!”
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‘Money’ Talks
"Can I get a moment of silence real quick?" Kendrick asks before bouncing through "Money Trees" to massive applause and dense shouts of his "Ya bish!" refrain. It's become one of Kendrick's breakout hits without seeing any significant radio play or even being formally released as a single, which speaks to how this engaged young crowd has consumed his work.
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Ab-Soul Interlude
Ab-Soul shines during his brief set, performing "Terrorist Threats" from his riveting independent album Control System (released on Kendrick's TDE imprint). He's the most reserved of the group but boasts intrigue and a razor-sharp tongue. "I just want to be free/ I ain't tryna be nobody chattel" he rhymes as Kendrick echoes his every word.
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50 Joins In
50 Cent emerges as the major surprise MC of the night, but reception for his newer material – including the Kendrick collaboration "We Up" – is lukewarm at best.
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50 Soldiers On
Still, 50's a veteran onstage and rouses the crowd with an eventful set that includes old G Unit buddy Tony Yayo and a quick plug for his new venture, boxing promotion. His set borders on bizarre, but Lamar keeps it together before closing the show out with "Swimming Pools (Drank)." "Tonight we gon' toast to our motherfuckin' success!" Kendrick shouts.
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All Amongst Friends
After the show, friends and family flock to the backstage area – including Brooklyn's Joey Bada$$, the 18-year-old lyricist who's enjoyed an increased profile in recent months. He exchanges a quick handshake with Dave Free before seeking out Lamar to join the post-show festivities.