‘Spin’ PARTY: Kendrick Lamar
Stubb’s, Friday, March 15“Who’s been fucking with me since day one?” So asked Compton’s Kendrick Lamar during his late-afternoon set for Spin‘s annual day party at Stubb’s. While the dusty backyard bill boasted hot-ticket names like Solange and CHVRCHES, the crowd doubled when Lamar took the stage. The young rapper was one of the most anticipated acts at South by Southwest this year and he knew it. He spiraled through cuts from his major label debut, good kid, M.A.A.D. city, and lesser known work from earlier Section.80. No one in the crowd seemed lost. Lamar often let the beat fade for audience interaction, letting crowdsourced call backs fill in his gaps. Aware of his obvious name recognition, he didn’t rely on it, instead throwing the Beach House-sampled “Money Trees,” “Swimming Pools,” and “Backseat Freestyle” into a set list brimming with his typical, confident pomp. He spit album-quality lines without batting an eyelash. Of the hyped acts at SXSW this year, he was most impressive. Kendrick Lamar is here to stay, ya bish.
This article appears in March 15 • 2013.