| Concert Review of Kanye West at Madison Sq. Garden Th. on Wed Nov 02, 2005 |
| Event Date |
| Wed Nov 02, 2005 |
| Source |
| New York Times |
| Concert Review Preview |
| An All-American Striver Keeps Things in Perspective By JON PARELES Published: November 4, 2005 Upward mobility is everything to Kanye West. On Wednesday night at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, his set began with the sound of Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up," and in his raps he presented himself as an all-American striver: close to his family, ambitious, hard-working, initially unappreciated, faced with setbacks (including a serious automobile accident) but eventually reaping huge rewards. He can't resist flaunting them. But he's self-conscious when he does, wondering if the urge to acquire diamonds and fancy cars means that he has been seduced by a racist system. "We buy our way out of jail," he rapped in his hit single "All Falls Down," and the audience supplied the follow-up: "But we can't buy freedom." Mr. West is a pop rarity: a producer who can also perform. His ear for samples, particularly from lush 1970's soul songs, and his skill at building drama into backing tracks created hits for a long list of hip-hop and R&B performers. But as his songs tell it, no one wanted to hear his own raps. Two Top 10 albums later, that has changed. Onstage, live musicians - including a string section and a harp, silhouetted behind a scrim - reinforced the orchestral soul samples while Mr. West darted around the stage. His wardrobe underscored his story: first a dapper jacket and flashy sunglasses to announce who he is, then a fast-food worker's uniform shirt and name tag for his underdog years, later a white suit when he moved toward preacherlike testimony in "Jesus Walks." Mr. West delivers his rhymes in an unassuming, conversational tone, but they're fast and precise, and onstage it was clear that his producer's ear extends to his vocals: in each song, his voice was placed at a different, unswerving pitch. Mr. West is as important for what's not in his raps - thuggery and violence - as for what is. He articulates sympathy for the black community in songs like "Crack Music," which details the alchemy of ghetto misery into mass culture. He mixes self-satisfaction and joshing complaints about his own status as a hitmaker and star, while admitting to his failings in songs like "Addiction." And whenever it seems that he might turn too goody-goody, Mr. West flashes a sense of humor. . |
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| User Comments |
| I left uplifted and inspired! |
| I went to see Kanye West perform at the Garden with my two daughters aged 11 and 15. Man, this guy is a performer. I felt like we got a bargain for our seats and the girls had an amazing time. What is notable is that Kanye performs with two backup singers, one male and one female, that's it. No hype man, no dancers. He is completely connected to the audience every second he occupies the stage His stage design was eye-catching but not distracting and for a rap artist, you can see he put a lot of effort into putting on a SHOW. Not just picking a few spots here and there to rhyme. Surprise guest Jay-Z came out after Kanye tore it down performing "Gold Digger" this was well into an hour of the show and everytime he performed a more popular song, "Through the Wire," or "All Falls Down" it got more crazy, louder, frenzied. After "Gold Digger" Kanye left the stage to the crowd chanting "Kanye! Kanye!" It was darkened and then he walks out with Jay-Z about 3 steps behind; it is impossible to believe it has ever been louder at the Garden for any rap artist. Even Jay-Z said, "Damn, Kanye. I have to come to your shows more often." Jay-Z performed "Encore" from The Black Album which you could hardly hear with the deafening crowd, then Kanye instructed his DJ and the music for "My Name Is Hov" came on and man, it was so loud I thought the ceiling was going to cave in. I'm 35 years old. I have been seeing rap acts since the 80's; from clubs like Union Square, Broadway International, The Latin Quarters, the Rooftop, Red Parrott. I've seen PE, McLyte, BDP, Rakim, LL's first show at the Funhouse; and I will say this: Kanye West is a rap LEGEND. Not many contemporary artists really make you feel like you are witnessing artistic greatness, he achieved that in 2 hours. |
| Another note. Not to be outdone, and not to be done, after the feat with Jay-Z ... Kanye leaves the stage again and what song does he come back with? "Jesus Walks." I'm surprised that theatre didnt get flipped over. quirkee1@msn.com |
| really??? was that wednesday, because i was there and there definitely was no jay-z. |
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