MC Kendrick Lamar recently took up the mic at the Union Square Best Buy in Manhattan, alongside fellow T.D.E. homie, Jay Rock, to perform the headbanger "Money Trees" off K.dot's just-released and already-critically-acclaimed good kid, m.A.A.d city.
Some things to note while watching:
1. The Crowd Control personnel with that ill stoic face! It's hard to believe that one could listen to this song (coming straight from the beast's mouth, at that!) without involuntarily nodding or swaying. Ol' boy barely blinks.
2. That security guard is only of note because he contrasts so starkly with what seems to be the livest teenage sausagefest audience at a Best Buy event. Even though the album just dropped on Monday, the crowd's in sync with Kendrick's performance as if "Money Trees" has been a classic for years. If the audience is any indication of Classic status, K.Dot's a winner.
3. Kendrick forgot the beginning of his second verse right quick! Shamelessly, he turns to his boy like, "How this verse go?" Later, in between lines, he mumbles, "I'm f***ing up!" (It happens.) His DJ and the crowd helped him recover, though. It was endearing.
4. Jay Rock and K.dot had to share a mic. That's an L for BestBuy. Still, the shared mic situation left space for a telling moment. After Jay Rock finishes his verse, he tries to hand the mic back to the star MC, but Kendrick lets him keep rocking it. It made me smile to see that type of humility in someone who's being likened to Outkast, and who's expected to change (or revive) the game.
Spotted at SC.
