New Zealand has a very chequered past with hip-hop, more so than any other genre of music. The easy part is the Kendrick Lamar situation and why a lot of hip-hop fans were disappointed with it. To talk about Rapture without touching on the issues in the lead-up wouldn't be appropriate and there is a lot I want to say about it. With 55,000 in attendance for Eminem, things could have easily gotten out of hand. The only real problem came afterward where there weren't enough buses to take everyone who needed them in a timely fashion. The majority of those in attendance at Western Springs seemed pleased with his set, which included an appearance from all of his albums. On the whole it was a flawless performance from a man who, seven years ago, seemed to be unofficially retired. However, sound quality at the show left a little to be desired whenever the band's guitarist decided to crank it up, Eminem was completely drowned out for everyone sitting up on the terraces or hill. The energy of the man was impressive as he busted out a 28-song, 90-minute performance while bouncing across the stage backed by a live band. It didn't matter what he played though, as the multi-generational crowd - pumped by the hyperactive Action Bronson then J Cole - was bouncing along with whatever Eminem was throwing out.Ī highlight was the medley of 'My Name Is - 'The Real Slim Shady' - 'Without Me'.
#Eminem show 2014 professional
While Shady was aided finishing most of his lines by (I think) Swifty McVay, he still busted out an appropriate amount of solo performances - including proving that bit of 'Rap God' is not computer enhanced.īoth eras of his professional career were represented, with tracks like 'Kill You' - complete with images on the big screen showing a body being dragged to the end of a pier - hitting home with those around for 2000s-era Eminem and more radio-friendly tracks like 'Love The Way You Lie' showcasing the reinvention of Marshall Mathers. With Western Springs near bursting and the neighbours probably as fed-up as those I annoyed blasting The Marshall Mathers LP as a 13-year-old, the self-professed Rap God turned out an open-air spectacle worthy of the expensive admission.Įminem's set list spanned his seven solo albums and included an extra nugget when Royce da 5"9' showed up for a special performance from their Bad Meets Evil album. It took 15 years from his first LP, but Eminem's first trip to New Zealand as headliner for the Rapture festival was an incredible display.
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