The European leg of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Big Steppers Tour’ came to a breathtaking culmination at Manchester’s AO Arena on last night.
The tour follows the synopsis of Lamar’s fifth studio album, Mr Morale & The Big Steppers. Much anticipated and universally lauded, the record marked the end of a five-year absence of releases (or 1,855 days exactly, as Lamar recounts in the opening line of the album).
Only one day prior to Lamar’s Manchester show, his latest release had been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Rap Album.
As expected, the near-sold-out AO Arena received the acclaimed artist with unparalleled enthusiasm. Given Lamar’s existing discography, there was no surprise in the somewhat cryptic, minimalist stage setup.
Lamar – as the titular character from Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers – was guided throughout the performance by a ‘therapist’ (voiced by English actress Helen Mirren). As Lamar graced the all-white stage, the therapist advised Lamar that it was time to leave his ‘comfort zone’.
What followed was an intimate introduction to what is, ultimately, Lamar’s most personal record yet. The show opened with United in Grief, as Lamar stared down the stage camera holding a puppet resembling himself.
It quickly became clear to concertgoers that the profound nature of Lamar’s catalogue would be personified through abstract expression.
Almost immediately, Lamar launched into his opening, up-tempo tracks with N95 and ELEMENT, accompanied by an explosive pyrotechnic display.
The Californian was decked out in a greyed outfit and glimmering silver jewels, and commanded the audience with back-to-back, seemingly effortless, performances of Worldwide Steppers, and Rich Spirit.
The peak of the concert occurred midway, as Lamar approached a lone piano centre stage. He played a staccato, three-note melody, and what followed was obvious to anyone with even a middling knowledge of pop culture.
The energy within the floor crowd was electric as HUMBLE began playing, with Lamar’s voice barely audible over the sound of the crowd roaring his own lyrics back towards him.
A brief interlude followed as Mr Morale’s therapist showed sympathy to the titular character. He is considered ‘a product of his environment’, referring to Lamar’s somewhat turbulent upbringing in Compton, California.
It was only at this point Lamar acknowledged his Manchester audience, ‘checking the temperature’ of the crowd.
Deeming the audience worthy of an encore, Lamar performed a mashup of LOYALTY and Swimming Pools, before launching into a remix of fan-favourite, Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe.
Female dancers adorned in white joined the rapper on centre stage, dancing in an abstract, almost over-expressive manner.
What may have appeared bizarre to those unfamiliar with Lamar’s work was, in reality, a perfect accompaniment to the subsequent performance of Die Hard, a track from his recent record, followed by LUST and DNA.
There was a short pause, before a see-through box descended from the ceiling, enclosing Lamar. The crowd responded in the way only Britons do – with a football-inspired chant: ‘Kendrick’s in a box, in a box… Kendrick’s in a box!’
He acknowledged the crowd directly for only the second time – ‘are you entertained?!’ A trio of fan-favourites follow – Silent Hill, Vent, and Range Brothers – as Lamar was elevated into the air and over the audience.
The show closes with an emotive punch, as the rapped showed the first visible signs of tiredness. He tackled tracks driven by emotion and all things profound – Family Ties, Crown, and Mr Morale.
Concluding with Savior, a moving cultural commentary, Lamar ended the show by flashing a grateful smile to the audience, thanking them for their attendance.
The show was, ultimately, a celebration – both of Lamar’s musical works and his heritage. Despite the deeply personal nature of the show, which highlighted the trails and tribulations of a Compton native, the Manchester audience indulged in every lyric.
It is unusual for a foreign artist to command such influence over a UK crowd, though Lamar’s infrequent trips to the UK must be treasured. The AO Arena collectively resonated with this sentiment, as illustrated by a crowd reluctant to leave the venue.
Given this five-star show, there is no doubt that Lamar’s return to Manchester will be received with even more anticipation.
