LIVE REVIEW: Kanye West

TAMPA –- Say what you will about Kanye West (and hoo boy, the man certainly gets people "saying" things), but the controversial Chicago rapper isn't shy. Or subtle. Or, possibly, sane.

From his braggadocio at awards shows to his best-selling beats, not to mention flapping his yap about hot-button politics, the "Louis Vuitton don" does everything big, brash, bold. And that certainly goes for his live shows, too.

On arguably the biggest bill of the summer –- or at least the biggest bill to feature a randy talking spaceship named Jane -- headliner West, plus three other too-cool hip-hop acts, bounced into Ford Amphitheatre Monday with swagger and sweat to spare. If any of the 9,200 in attendance say they weren't entertained, they're lying.

West digs a big, hot buildup, and he certainly got that. Skateboarding Muslim rapper Lupe Fiasco, West's Windy City protege, opened the night at 6:15 to a small, milling crowd. But the brainy MC quick-lipped his rhymes with panache and pogoing energy. He might be cocky like his mentor (already calling still-fresh songs "Kick, Push" and "Hip-Hop Saved My Life" classics), but he's an original for sure.

Pharrell Williams has made his bazillions as an inventive, meticulous producer. But side project N.E.R.D., the next act, was a chance for him to cut loose and go nuts, unleashing funk-punk scrums "Brain" and "Lapdance" and pulling random fans onstage to freak out. A few cuts into his set, he even invited the cheap-seat throngs to rush forward -- and they did, in a moment of mass mayhem that was chaotically charming (unless, of course, you were security).

Opening with the mad-girl romp "Breakin' Dishes," Barbados native Rihanna strutted about in a pink-and-black one-piece, something Catwoman might buy at Frederick's of Hollywood. On the radio, the young star has rival Beyonce beat, with an endless string of great, catchy hits: "Pon de  Replay, "S.O.S." "Umbrella." That said, Rihanna is still years behind B. in stage presence and confidence, a blah performer whose sole move is slowly (if expertly) undulating her tuchus. Her 30-minute set was long enough.   

And then, at last, there was Kanye, who not only believes he's the best entertainer in the world, but also fancies himself the next George Lucas. On a spectacularly silly, expensive stage made to look like a desolate lunar landscape, 'Ye hammed it up as a wayward space ranger who has crash-landed in oblivion. His only companion? His spaceship Jane, who turns out to be a lot, ahem, friendlier than her cold, robot voice lets on.

With a full band hidden under all the smokey, flamey FX, Kanye worked the stage all by his lonesome, packaging his songs to tell the sci-fi narrative. The tragic "Through the Wire," about his disfiguring car accident, bled into the resilient "Champion," Kanye's Lazarus story set to a Steely Dan sample.

When Kanye longed for some female companionship, Jane (represented on a giant video screen) turned into a gold-plated stripper. The accompanying song? "Gold Digger." After that: the after-party vamp "Good Life."

For a one-man show, it was impressive, as West worked up a massive sweat spitting hit after hit. The storyline's epic finish featured a prayer (the militaristic oomph of "Jesus Walks"), a memory ("Hey Mama," dedicated to his late mother) and, at last, a happy ending (the full-blown get-down "Stronger").

Is Kanye arrogant? Absolutely. But he's also charming as all get-out. And rest assured he knows he has issues. As he sat on his lonely planet and turned to the heavens, he said, "God, if you get me off this planet, I promise to stop talking s---. And I promise to stop spazzing out at awards show."

Does he mean it? Probably not. But hey, it's a start.

Photo: Getty Images (from Grammy Awards)

Comments

[DG]

I haven't seen any live clips of West...Does he have a live band or is the only "live" part of the show his voice?

And what Steely Dan song does he sample? West ought to beware of Fagen & Becker coming after him a la Owen Wilson.

[Marissa]

When I read that Kanye samples from Steely Dan I will admit I was shocked. Not that he'd use it, but the fact they'd permit him to use it.

I'm not surprised that Rhianna doesn't have the stage chops of Beyonce, but I will declare that I prefer her voice and style over Ms. B's.

[Dan]

Biggest bill of the summer?..How many showed up 9200 ?? This guy is a sham. Hey self proclaimed greatest entertainer where was everybody??

[gabe]

i'm sure kanye was fun. lupe is where mainstream hip-hop needs to be, the dude kills! wish i went to see him, but i'll wait until lupe come to town at a smaller venue. as far as "biggest bill of the summer", that would be happening tonight at the same venue...

[Greg]

I was there. Dan it was a very very entertaining show. To the person that asked , the whole show featured a live band and even some orchestra strings and backup singers. You could not see them on stage but it was evident that the music was live, and at the end of the show he thanked the entire band and the cameras flashed to them working hard backstage.
It was definitely the best rap concert that i have attended because he treated it as an event. Like something Janet Jackson or a huge pop star would do. He didnt have a million people on stage with him, no entourages or anything, he killed it solo for over an hour without taking even so much as a water break. The lighting and smoke was crazy and the writer was correct in saying that every person in the Ford was out of their seats. There was a 65 year old guy next to me with his grandaughter and he turned to me and remarked that "this guy is amazing!"

[Sean]

I was there too, 4th row - center - it was AMAZING! This was the first rap / hip hop show I've ever been to - I'm more of a rock concert kind'a guy - but I was thoroughly impressed! And now that I think of it, I don't remember Kanye taking a water break either - he was blowing it up and sweatin' up a storm! N.E.R.D. was CRAZY too! Awesome stage show and band!

[Chris M]

I really wish I could have made it to the concert. Monday is such a horrible day for a concert.
I really wanted to see Lupe Fiasco over the rest of the group.

[jeff a.]

I went to the show and it was one of the best I have ever been to. Kanye really out did himself not only working the crowd not jus with the live band, but with his energy. it was hard to not give in even if you did not know the words. The stage and the space theme only add that much more as he went through each of his hits. Throughout the concert he had the crowd on its feet, i dont think i saw anyone sit once...

[JB]

Pretty Funny, only 9000 fans showed up! Sean, Sorry but Kanye just isnt that good. When a 63 year old Eric Clapton can almost double the fans then this self absorbed wannabe.. well you guys can fill in the blanks.

Throw in the Chick that has had only one hit and you have a HUGE disappointment for a concert.

Next year this clown will be a Janus Landing if he is lucky

JB

[Greg]

Give me whatever you hav ebeen smoking JB. OF course a 63 year old would have a larger audience. Clapton is a legend, Kanye is a young artist and he is far from a one hit wonder. Produced countless hit records and his first 3 albums have all been critically aclaimed and multi-platinum.

[JB]

Greg, wrong again, a guy like Kanye should have sold the place out.. He didnt. The reason is his act is tired and his music is BOOORING.

[Tonka61]

Kanye gets a review by you and Clapton gets a correspondent's take? Wow.

[Tonka61]

Kanye gets a review by you and Clapton gets a correspondent's take? Wow.