Lauren Spencer
“La la la la, wait ’til I get my money right.”
BOOM! The neon-colored flames shot from the middle of the stage during “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” one of 10-time Grammy award-winning rapper/producer Kanye West’s hits of 2007.
The crowd roared and sang along, “…then you can’t tell me nothing right?” with arms fully flexed in the air and heads of every person bobbing to the beat April 22 during the Glow in the Dark Tour at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. The tour also featured hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco, alternative rock group N.E.R.D. and singer Rihanna.
Fiasco opened up the show with his energy completely maxed and his white feathery vest, not the most hip-hop like attire, came off as he hyped the crowd to his music.
He performed all of his hits and new songs from his album, “The Cool.” The crowd was along with him through his entire set, but when he performed his smash hit “Superstar,” the first single off the album, the crowd cheered and sang along with Matthew Santos, the singer featured on the track.
Rap group N.E.R.D came out to “Anti,” a song off their upcoming album, “Seeing Sounds.” Mega producer Pharrell Williams and Shay Haley rapped while band director Chad Hugo played on the keyboard. N.E.R.D’s musical style is a mixture of rock and hip-hop, which was an exciting act to witness live.
They performed many more songs including “Rockstar,” “Lapdance” and the first single off their new album, “Everyone Nose.”
Rihanna’s set was elaborate, with a glamorous “R” in the middle of a circle which slowly began to rise to reveal the singer’s model-shaped silhouette.
She passionately sang her slow jam hit, “Unfaithful, “and reached high notes that blew away the audience.
She ended her set with the largest hit of her career, “Umbrella.” It was now time for the last intermission of the night before the man of the hour appeared.
People rustled back to their seats and waited anxiously. Then, the lights dimmed down and the crowd went berserk. A screen with an image of a spaceship panel that had artificial intelligence, which was called Jane, appears with galaxies, stars and planets all in a pitch black sky, creating the illusion of being in a spaceship and speeding through outer space.
The theater lights flashed and then West appeared, laid out on the rocky, planet-looking platform.
The music played, and he said, “good morning,” and performed the similarly titled song as his opening number.
For almost an hour and a half he commanded the stage alone. He intertwined each song together, making it difficult for a person to relax before the next smash started.
Fans made the Roc-A-Fella dynasty sign with their hands during “Diamonds from Sierra Leone.” His voice was synthesized though the microphone to have the singer T-Pain’s sound during “Good Life.” He solemnly performed a newer rendition of the song dedicated to his late mother called “Hey Mama.” He had an alien appear while giving a theatrical type monologue about him crashing on the planet, and ended the night with the horn blaring song, “Touch the Sky.”
The speakers boomed the entire night and the bass shook the flooring terribly while the sold-out audience cheered, screamed and roared very loudly.
The combination of it all sounded like a strong thunderstorm and earthquake were just created simultaneously.
Weird fashion choices by Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D’s rock-style way of performing, Rihanna’s impressive live vocals and Kanye’s crashed spaceship on a random planet with aliens doesn’t sound like your typical hip-hop concert.
Regardless, it will definitely be a concert that will forever “glow” down in history.