Pulitzer Prize-winning Kendrick Lamar ushers in a non-scary future

Kendrick Lamar has the hooks, the beats and the understated charisma but most central to his performance was his joy.

Kendrick Lamar shares the joy at Perth Arena on July 10. Picture: Charleen Morais.

It would be almost impossible to walk away from watching Kendrick Lamar and not feel you have been in the presence of someone very special. This year’s Pulitzer prizewinner for music has the hooks, the beats and the understated charisma — but one thing remained most central to his performance in Perth on Tuesday night as he opened his Australian tour, and that was joy.

It truly was a wondrous thing to be in a packed arena and feel the sober energy of 15,000 or so young people jumping up and down on command as the Compton, California-reared 31-year-old picked his way through his catalogue. Songs were shared between artist and audience in a playful exchange. Lamar would stop suddenly mid-song and the crowd would take up the rap or chant. ­Element, Swimming Pools (Drank) and Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe all built to an almost delirious state.

Midway through the set, Lamar emerged on the B stage halfway up the arena. As he stood there, a fairy-light cage arose around him. He performed within it, then slowly ascended to finish the song from on top of the cage, which was all of 5m or 6m above the crowd. It was clever symbolism and sensational showmanship.

His signature song Alright came towards the end of the 80-minute set. The crowd repeated the song’s mantra “we gon’ be ­alright” (minus the “n” word from the original recording) and showed the universality of the sentiment that goes beyond its ­initial status as a rallying call for the Black Lives Matter movement. This is the music of the emerging generation and this positive affirmation was heartfelt and moving.

In a period of shifting sands, culturally as well as musically, Lamar showed that his finger is right on the pulse. This was exemplified in the staging, too, as his small band, very audible but unannounced and almost anonymous in the shadows at the side of the stage, was heard but hardly seen.

The bare stage, ringed by a line of lights, was left completely for the use of the star and, on ­occasion, his dancer.

The use of the band felt like a hand reaching out to rock fans to grab hold of the familiar as we move to the future in a hip-hop world. In this guy’s hands, it’s not such a scary thing.

Music: Kendrick Lamar, Perth Arena. July 10. Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Friday and Saturday; Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Sunday; Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, July 24-25. Lamar also performs at Splendour in the Grass, July 22.