We were packed in at the Twin Peaks stage with breathless compression on Saturday’s headlining event at Outside Lands 2015, and as far as the eye could see I was surrounded by K-Dot impersonators, guy and girl alike, rapping every word like they’ve grown up with the flowmaster. Maybe they have, actually – 90% of these kids looked under 20. All the same, maniacal enthusiasm greeted fan-favorites “Swimming Pools (Drank),” the new ”King Kunta,” the California anthem “The Recipe” and A$ap Rocky’s ‘Fuckin’ Problems,” which was perhaps the most wildly received song of the entire festival thus far.
Kendrick no longer seems to be the humble & hungry young rhymespitter he was when we saw him at Bonnaroo a few years back – but the fire remains, and so does the respect for the game. Prior to show-closer “Alright,” which Lamar played 10 minutes after his officially scheduled end time, he delivered a passionate speech about Dre’s genius. Having just released his incredible Compton album (read our review) – on which Kendrick appears in three songs – the crowd roared with enthusiasm in anticipation of Dre’s arrival. He never showed, but two bars into “Alright” and we entirely forgot about Dre.
Check out a Crave-exclusive gallery of Kendrick’s performance below:
Outside Lands 2015: Kendrick Lamar
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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17 Kendrick
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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3 Kendrick
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny FirecloudK
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Kendrick Lamar at Outside Lands 2015
by Johnny Firecloud
