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San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: Kendrick Lamar and SZA deliver a West Coast spectacle at Oracle Park
Surveying a sea of 40,000 people gathered at Oracle Park, rap bellwether Kendrick Lamar felt right at home. 'We're back on the West Coast, my home,' Lamar proclaimed. 'We came to the bay to turn this motherf—er all the way up.' By the end of the nearly three-hour show on Thursday, May 29, he and his tour mates SZA and DJ Mustard made good on the proclamation through a multisensory concert that demonstrated the power of Black creativity, perseverance, beauty and love through art, choreography, music and message. Like the Pacific Ocean that served as a natural backdrop, it was an evening of contrasts that came in waves, at times churning and relentless, and other times peaceful and restorative. A vintage Buick Grand National car served as a symbol of West Coast car culture that would anchor the show. DJ Mustard warmed up a crowd with a fun set that mixed regional rap bangers with Bay Area classics by E-40, Mac Dre and Too Short. He even dropped 2010s-era pop like 'Party in the U.S.A.' and 'We Are Young,' which were met with lusty sing-alongs. Lamar and SZA split their stage time into separate and collaborative mini sets. The tag-team format allowed for a musical and aesthetic reset where Lamar's prowling alpha would give way to SZA's divine feminine omega and vice versa. It was a sumptuous 10-course meal that, with their deep pantry of hits, whetted the appetite for what came next. When the two joined forces on duets '30 for 30,' 'Doves in the Wind,' they evoked the soulful intimate chemistry of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell for this generation. During their collaborative hit 'All the Stars' from the 'Black Panther' soundtrack, phone lights radiated around the stadium, a spontaneous moment that combined with the audience singing along raised goose bumps. SZA's set was visually and emotionally compelling, with her exploration and embodiment of the Black female experience through a metaphor of Mother Earth. During 'Garden (Say It Like Dat),' SZA traded in the Buick ride for a giant ant. Dancers dressed as praying mantises clicked across the stage like Cirque du SZA. For 'Kill Bill,' she executed (heh) the hit while footage of a mantis mating ritual where the female devours the male played on the big screen. If SZA's goal was to shake the 'just an R&B singer' tag, she accomplished that. She showed her vocal versatility and command of hard rock, indie folk and pop. On 'F2F,' she was accompanied by a guitarist and bassist to head bang and shred alongside her. 'Scorsese Baby Daddy' gave off 'Til Tuesday vibes. A metamorphosis took place, literally, when she strapped on butterfly wings to perform the folk-inflected 'Nobody Gets Me.' Given the state of the world, where atrocities and outrage keeps building, Lamar's sets served as a much-needed release valve. Energy levels spiked during songs like 'Alright' and 'DNA,' which took on fresh meanings in the current political climate. So many rappers have diluted the art of MCing by letting a prerecorded vocal track do the heavy lifting in a live setting. Not in Lamar's case, whose genuine voice boomed out the speaker for the entire show. 'Dodger Blue' combined pinpoint choreography in a setting that, to this reviewer, reframed 'The Last Supper' as a Compton high school cafeteria table. Lamar glided across it and rapped while seated dancers performed mesmerizing handwork. Songs from Lamar's 2012 breakout 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City' were given makeovers. 'M.A.A.D City' was remade into a quiet storm track complete with Anita Baker 'Sweet Love' backdrop. 'Poetic Justice' was accentuated with hard snares and was conspicuously missing the Drake verse. So let's talk about Drake, the Canadian elephant not in the room. Between songs, deposition-style videos played on the big screen of Lamar and SZA in the hot seat, enduring a battery of questions from a hidden interrogator. The prosecution's identity wasn't revealed, but fans knew. When the lawyer asked if allusions to violence in his songs should be taken as a threat, Lamar shot back, 'Whatever you want to take it.' While Lamar, SZA and DJ Mustard were on the marquee, Drake's aura hung in the stadium air like a pretty piñata waiting to get crushed. The most bloodthirsty pops of the night came during Lamar's performances of feud tracks 'Euphoria' and 'Not Like Us,' the latter which morphed from a Drake exposé to a West Coast anthem to a worldwide dance challenge. At Oracle, fans extended the 'A minorrrrr' line into next week, letting the candies rain. Though they shared the spotlight, Lamar and SZA traveled distinct pathways across 53 songs. After putting the show to bed with the calming 'Luther' and 'Gloria,' from Lamar's latest album 'GNX,' the duo climbed into the Buick and disappeared under Oracle Park, on to the next episode. Act I: Kendrick Lamar Act II: SZA '30 for 30' (with Kendrick Lamar) 'What Do I Do' 'Love Galore' 'Broken Clocks' 'The Weekend' Act III: Kendrick Lamar 'Euphoria' 'Hey Now' 'Reincarnated' 'Humble' 'Backseat Freestyle' 'Family Ties' 'Swimming Pools (Drank)' (shortened, a cappella) 'M.A.A.D City' (shortened) 'Alright' 'Man at the Garden' Act IV: SZA 'Scorsese Baby Daddy' 'F2F' 'Garden (Say It Like Dat)' 'Kitchen' 'Blind' 'Consideration' (Rihanna cover) 'Low' Act V: Kendrick Lamar & SZA 'Doves in the Wind' 'All the Stars' 'Love' Act VI: Kendrick Lamar 'Dodger Blue' 'Peekaboo' 'Like That' 'DNA' 'Good Credit' 'Count Me Out'/'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe' 'Money Trees' 'Poetic Justice' Act VII: SZA 'I Hate U' 'Shirt' 'Kill Bill' 'Snooze' 'Crybaby' 'Nobody Gets Me' 'Good Days' 'Rich Baby Daddy' 'BMF' 'Kiss Me More' Act VIII: Kendrick Lamar 'N95' 'TV Off' (Part II) 'Not Like Us' Act IX: Kendrick Lamar & SZA 'Luther' 'Gloria' Todd Inoue is a freelance writer.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
What is Rod Waves net worth? Rapper who matched Taylor Swift's records released on bond after Georgia arrest
Rapper Rod Wave was apprehended in Georgia on suspicion of aggravated assault, possession, and pointing a gun at a person. According to online arrest documents acquired by USA TODAY, the singer, whose real name is Rodarius Marcell Green, was arrested on May 20 on 14 offenses in Fulton County, Georgia. He was arrested at the Fulton County jail and but freed on bond the same day. The accusations, which are connected to an incident that occurred on April 21, include mere assault, reckless behavior, property damage, obstruction of law enforcement, evidence manipulation, and conspiracy to engage in a felony. The 26-year-old hip-hop artist's breakthrough hits include 'Street Runner,' 'Tombstone,' and '25.' He recently worked on the soundtrack for the main single of the show "Sinners" with the same name. Wave has also matched Taylor Swift's records. In 2023, the two were the only musicians to have a new solo album that reached the top of the charts in each of the preceding three years. The rapper's 2024 album 'Last Lap' helped him to become the only performer other than Swift to have a top 10 album in each of the 2019–2024 chart years. Also Read: Who is Sterling Williams? New Orleans jail employee who 'willfully and maliciously' facilitated 10 inmates escape Rod Wave has an estimated net worth of $4 million. The rapper garnered famed when his first two studio albums, 'Ghetto Gospel' (2019) and 'Pray 4 Love' (2020), peaked at number 10 on the 'Billboard' 200. His third studio album 'SoulFly' came out at number one on the 'Billboard' 200 in 2021, confirming his status as a major player in the music business. Born as Rodarius Marcell Green on August 27, 1999 in St. Petersburg, Florida, Rod Waves was mostly raised by his mother following his parents' divorce. When Wave was a child, his father was convicted of a number of crimes and given a sentence of more than five years in prison. In addition to his mother's financial difficulties, Rod engaged in drug selling and robbery as a youngster. In 2017, he received his diploma from Lakewood High School. While growing up, he enjoyed rap and hip-hop music and followed several artists such as E-40, Chingy, Boosie Badazz, Chief Keef and Kanye West.
Axios
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Golden State Warriors release an All-Star themed album
The Golden State Warriors have released a new album with notable Bay Area hip-hop artists including P-Lo, E-40, Too $hort and G-Eazy. Why it matters: The Warriors are the first and only NBA franchise with a record label, Golden State Entertainment (GSE). What they're saying: GSE creator and Warriors' Chief Legal Officer, David Kelly, says the Warriors are trying to build a brand that transcends sports. "To me, it was more striking that it hadn't been done then, that it should be done," Kelly, a former rapper himself, tells Axios. "We look for artists who represent ideals, represent the Bay Area in a positive way, but still are very much authentically part of the culture... and give them the platform that we have." Zoom in: "For the Soil" is a nine-track project led by Paolo Rodriguez aka P-Lo, who hails from Pinole. It's a collaboration between GSE and independent label Empire. "The Bay Area music scene has always been rich and we've always done our own thing, I'm so happy that GSE is backing all this and allowing us this opportunity to really showcase who we are," Rodriguez tells Axios. Our thought bubble: The feature-packed song " Players Holiday '25," is the quintessential ballad to the Bay and life-long Warriors fans. The album is streaming now.
