Kendrick Lamar Brings Milwaukee on a Poetic Journey at Fiserv Forum

Kendrick has always been known to provide deep experiences live, but the lyricism from his 2022 album “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” definitely set the stage for high expectations, which he exceeded. He also hadn’t released music since “DAMN.” in 2017. He toured for “DAMN.” but did not stop in Milwaukee. Therefore, having him here in 2022 was a pleasure.

Rapper Baby Keem has been opening for Kendrick on the tour, which was a stellar choice considering the two have several songs together. Baby Keem first gained popularity back in 2019 with his song “Orange Soda” off his EP “Die for my B****”.

Baby Keem opened with a short set list initially and actually didn’t play any of his most popular songs. It was confusing at first but nonetheless kept the energy high. After a short 20-30 minute intermission, he came back on stage in an entirely different outfit. This is when he ended up playing those songs that were oddly missing from the first half.

“Honest,” “Trademark USA” and “Orange Soda” were all a part of the second set and this was honestly a good decision because a lot of times people skip the opener. This allowed for those who got there a little late to still see all of Keem’s most well-known songs. For a relatively new artist who missed a lot of live opportunities due to COVID, he performed well and had a strong stage presence.

Kendrick came out not too long after Keem’s set with “United in Grief” off the new album, which definitely put a trance-like grip on the audience. The themes within the song were present all throughout the show and the opening melody of the song came up a few more times during the performance. The meaning and feeling behind the song made for a chilling presentation live.

It’s refreshing to see rappers touch on fragile subject matters, and Kendrick does it in a hypnotic way. The “voice of his therapist” even interjected occasionally between songs. He followed the opener with “N95,” a stand-out song on “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers.”

Something that set this show apart was the theatrical element that was supported by the dancers on the stage. Again, this is an element that many rappers lack, but adding this to the show made it so much more intense. During slower moments within the performance, the audience could shift their attention to the extensive choreography done by the dancers.

He shifted the energy after the first two songs with “ELEMENT.,” an underrated song off “DAMN.” Overall, the show had a perfect combination of songs off all his albums, there wasn’t too much or too little of anything. With an artist that has had such a timeless impact on the genre, it was almost like taking a time machine through his discography. It was fascinating to gain the perspective of an older Kendrick, who is 35 now.

During “m.A.A.d city,” the dancers stood around him in a circle with flashlights pointing toward him. This was an interesting visual and felt fitting with the basis of the song that focuses on the chaotic and violent Compton that Kendrick grew up in. There were elements in each part of the stage performance that exaggerated the themes of the music, making the lyrics feel more significant.

Another high point on the stage was the skit before “Alright.” Four people in hazmat suits surrounded Kendrick on the far end of the stage as a clear box lowered down upon him. A voice came on the speaker and said, “It’s time to take a COVID test”. The crowd laughed and it was a reminder of how far we’ve come through the pandemic to be able to experience something like this.

Baby Keem came back on stage to perform the songs that he shares with Kendrick including “Family Ties.” This particular performance had the entire ground of the Fiserv Forum shaking. Yes, the concrete floor of Milwaukee’s basketball stadium was moving. He closed out the night with “Mr. Morale” and “Savior,” a bittersweet way to end the night.

The show truly allowed Kendrick’s poetic approach to shine and felt uniquely emotional in comparison to other big names leading the Hip-Hop genre. He’s definitely paving the way for a different kind of rap performance, just like he’s done through the entirety of his career.