If you've never been to Coachella, it might be hard to imagine what a huge thing it is for an artist to play a headlining set at in a space like that. You have to command an audience of something like 100,000 people while also attempting to make some kind of artistic statement. It simply cannot be easy. And last night, Kendrick Lamar did it.
A mere three days after the release of his stunning new album DAMN., Kendrick performed much of the album live for the first time, for an audience who may or may not have been familiar with it. (It's hard to process new music when you're at Coachella.) And Kendrick also included a few surprise guests. He and Travis Scott teamed up for "Goosebumps," the collaboration that appeared on Scott's 2016 album Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight. Meanwhile, Kendrick's Black Hippy comrade Schoolboy Q did "THat Part," his hit from last year, and Future -- a guy who has never, as far as I know, done a song with Kendrick -- came out to do his internet-conquering drug anthem "Mask Off," with Kendrick playing hypeman below, watch some fan-made videos of those guest appearances and of Kendrick doing his new songs.
Kendrick Lamar is a BEAST! #blackturtle #Coachella #kendriclamar #vibes pic.twitter.com/2fF4g3amVY
— Jason James (@Jason_Solstice) April 17, 2017
Kung Fu Kenny - Kendrick Lamar getting LIT #Coachella #Coachella2017 #KendallJenner #kendricklamar #kungfukenny #OTO ## pic.twitter.com/Kvu2ubqMai
— Jason James (@Jason_Solstice) April 17, 2017
#Kendrick #Coachella Kendrick Lamar up close and personal performance in the middle of the crowd. #Coachella2017 #BeHumble #KendricLamar pic.twitter.com/mVUROp4mzL
— Janu¯_(?)_/¯ (@Mod_Minimalism) April 17, 2017
I GET THOSE GOOSEBUMPS EVERY TIME #Coachella2017 pic.twitter.com/tnc3mnjH4X
— Genius (@Genius) April 17, 2017
"MASK OFF" AT COACHELLA IS TOO LIT pic.twitter.com/nFzf55SWns
— Genius (@Genius) April 17, 2017
And now we all feel like assholes for not being there.
