The Dome at America’s Center was the setting for a live music experience that won’t soon be forgotten thanks to Grammy Award-winners Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Their highly anticipated Grand National Tour arrived in St. Louis Wednesday night, and eager fans charged through the rain for hours of dancing amidst an exhilarating light show and blazing pyrotechnics. After a set by Grammy-winning producer and DJ Mustard, the concert featured a storyline that depicted the duo’s journey from separate ends of the earth as they joined forces – and moved from state to state in their elusive Grand National.
Fans were first transported to the streets of Compton where we found Lamar rapping “wacced out murals”. The crowd cheered as a marching band rendition of the song blared through the arena. Then a black Buick Grand National emerged from the stage floor under a white spotlight that illuminated the dark stadium. As the lyrics started, thick smoke billowed from the rear tires. The lyrics and smoke intensified until Lamar emerged from the driver’s seat on the second verse.
He rapped the lyrics about respect in LA culture intently as fire columns and flickering strobe lights punctuated the beat drop. He moved about the stage in an oversized red leather jacket and baggy blue jeans customized with camouflage patches. After “wacced out murals,” came “squabble up,” a high energy song with bass that reverberated so heavily one could feel it.
Sculptures of modernly depicted Black men cycled on the screen behind him. The sculptures were all in action poses. Some were in dance circles, some in fights, others waved flags. All a representation of Lamar’s experience living in LA. For “King Kunta” these images were replaced with sculptures of Black men dapping each other up and positioned as if they were posing for a camera.
“ELEMENT”, and “tv off” bright strobes flooded the audience with blinking lights that wrapped around the stage as he performed. The song ended with a blackout and silence that was filled with the crowd’s cheers. The Grand National reemerged from the ground with SZA sitting on top with bright green vines. She joined him on stage for “30 For 30,” and danced about in a red and orange tracksuit.
Throughout the performances, videos of the artists giving a deposition would play on the large screen. Lamar was asked if his lyrics were threats or simply metaphors. SZA was asked if she sabotages relationships to create more Grammy winning albums. Their nonchalant and indirect answers advanced the storyline while also letting the audience know more about the artists and their creative process.
Later in the concert these videos would change to Lamar and SZA on a road trip, likely on the run. The partners in crime would bicker while driving down a road as if they have spent years together.
Fans were then whisked away to find SZA in a secluded and enchanting forest with thick vines and soft pink flowers growing up the stone backdrop behind her. As she sang “Love Galore” soft orange lights filled the stage mimicking a tranquil spring twilight. She sang with a group of dancers dressed in neutral colors, baggy pants and crop tops – SZA’s signature style – that was also reflected by the audience members.
The stone backdrop began to crack. It revealed an electric blue cove sheltered by more vines as she performed “Broken Clocks” flowing through the night and into the day again for “The Weekend.” She moved sensually along with her dancers before she yielded the stage to Lamar.
The Dome was then transported back to Compton, where Kendrick was joined by dancers who resembled the sculptures from his intro. He performed his infamous diss track “Euphoria.” Red fireworks sputtered whenever he took a shot at Drake. “Hey Now” and “Reincarnated” featured male dancers that were swapped out with ladies in denim shorts and crop tops for “Humble.” They hit sassy poses as they followed him around the stage.
He performed classics like “Backseat Freestyle”, “Family ties”, “Swimming Pools”, and “M.A.A.D. City” with more fire and flashing strobes before ending with “man in the garden.” For this record he rapped crouched on the hood of the Grand National as the screen moved through the streets of Compton. The imagery would speed up as the song progressed before it ended with a blackout.
The next image fans saw was the Grand National driving through lush trees. SZA is found singing “Scorsese Baby Daddy” then “F2F.” She wore a ballerina costume with the creatures of the forest portrayed by her dancers covered in patches of moss. For “Garden (Say It Like Dat)” a pair of large praying mantis insects on stilts joined her and sauntered about the stage as she sang.
SZA featured the praying mantis again later in the concert for “Kill Bill.” Her dancers wore masks that resemble the head of a mantis and danced menacingly in circles around the men who were dressed as ants and beetles. As the song came to a close, a video of a praying mantis casually eating an ant played on the backdrop – and completed the fantasy of SZA capturing her prey.
The two went back and forth playing their clever depositions while performing hits like “Snooze,” “Money Trees,” “Good Days” and the Los Angeles anthem “Not Like Us.” Finally, they came together to perform “luther” and “gloria.” As the song came to a close Kendrick led SZA to the Grand National waiting at the back of the stage. He opened her door before climbing into the car himself as they set off to their next destination.
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
