Live review: rapper Kendrick Lamar puts on a masterclass on first date of sold out Australian tour

REVIEW: Kendrick Lamar has demonstrated why he’s viewed as the finest rapper on the planet right now in his first sold-out Australian concert.

US rapper Kendrick Lamar performs during a sold out concert in Melbourne on Monday, March 21st, 2016. Picture: Mark Stewart

KENDRICK LAMAR

Rod Laver Arena

THERE was something in the air at Rod Laver Arena last night for US rapper Kendrick Lamar’s ultra-sold-out show on Monday night.

And it wasn’t just the indoor herbal clouds all around, with security seemingly turning a blind nostril.

Right now, Lamar is the hottest rapper in the world — like Kanye West without the kredibility problem he’s married into. There’s no ego, no grandstanding — his relatability is one of his many charms. Plus, that music and that flow.

Kendrick Lamar shows how to do live hip-hop properly. Picture: Mark Stewart.

You think you’ve seen amped crowds? Lamar’s fans were happily chanting the chorus to Alright before he’d even taken the stage. When he eventually arrives (his band were on stage for a good 10 minutes already, just chilling) it was a reaction beyond your usual concert experience.

Lamar has become a lot of peoples’ favourite rapper and as many of them as possible had bought tickets.

“Some of my most loyal, dedicated motherf---ng fans are in this arena right now,” Lamar says, repeating it during the night to make sure we don’t think he’s just on script.

“Don’t care if you’re black, green or purple — the music brings us together.”

Last year’s To Pimp a Butterfly saw Lamar embrace jazz, and he’s taken a similarly free-form musical attitude to touring the record.

Kendrick Lamar: poised. Picture: Mark Stewart

Gonna be alright. Picture: Mark Stewart

Leaving behind the days of touring with just a DJ, Lamar has a drummer, bassist, guitarist and keyboardist. Although, oddly, any female vocals, like the occasional gunshot, are prerecorded. Maybe next time.

The live instrumentation pushes his show to the next level, and beyond just him rapping over the album. The band go off on tangents, Lamar goes off on tangents.

At one point the band start noodling while Lamar gives us a lesson on the modern music industry and how To Pimp a Butterfly’s success (No.1 in the US, five Grammys) was so subversive.

“They don’t allow too many to make an album like that. No radio singles, just pure motherf----g music you can feel and you can relate to. An album about overcoming my own personal fears, my own personal responsibilities and looking in the mirror and facing them.”

King Kunta - next level @kendricklamar pic.twitter.com/arYpT85tdP

— cameron adams (@cameron_adams) March 21, 2016

There may be no radio hits to Lamar, but King Kunta - the runner up on this year’s Hottest 100 — is the definition of an anthem to the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

While Lamar asks who has his latest Untitled album, he bypasses the record for another anthem, Alright, the one the audience have been waiting to shout along with Lamar.

Lamar gave the crowd “tests” during the night to see how long they’ve been on-board. They seem to pass, as Lamar weaves through M.A.D.D City (complete with a guitar solo straight outta the ‘80s), Money Trees, Complexion, Backstreet Freestyle, Swimming Pools (Drank) and B---h Don’t Kill My Vibe, plus both I and U.

You know those gigs where you walk away having had a very special, very communal experience? This was one of those ones.

Kendrick Lamar plays Sydney’s Allphones Arena tomorrow and Bluesfest in Byron Bay on Thursday.

'We gon be all white!' Audience @ Rod Laver watching Kendrick

— BRIGGS AKA BIG SIGH (@BriggsGE) March 21, 2016

Originally published as Live review: rapper Kendrick Lamar puts on a masterclass on first date of sold out Australian tour