Kanye West played the Theatre Royal Drury Lane last night - the first time the beautiful venue had played host to a hip hop gig. 'It's a piece of history,' Kanye yelled from the stage, or some such. But of course, it's not that surprising to see him somewhere like that. It fits with his super-preppy aesthetic. The guy took to the stage backed by a dj, two singers, two cellists, four violinsts and a harpist! I can't think of any artist more obviously pleased with himself - and his constant moaning about how he should have cleaned up at the Grammys this year (as if anyone in this country cares about or respects the American awards); the lengthy and shambolic interlude when he talked us through his career and the dj played snatches of hits that West has produced for other people... well, it's all pretty tiresome. That, and the posturing of the lead violinist, go against him. And it's hard for any solo act to hold an audience for a whole show. Kanye's a nice enough dancer, but nothing more. A great rapper, but not the greatest. What else? Am I the only one to find it slightly suspect when the likes of Chris Martin lavish praise on Kanye at various award shows? Is it just because they know that Kanye, like them, is really a nice middle class boy, the acceptable face of rap? So I want to carp! And yet and yet and yet... he WAS pretty fantastic, all told.
Earlier in the day I checked out the Tropicalia exhibition at the Barbican centre. Wow! However much you might know about the music of late Sixties Brazil, and the social and political context in which artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Os Mutantes flourished (before the government put an end to the party), I'd still really recommend this show and the chance to see the art that helped first inspire the musicians. Indeed, there's even a recreation of Helio Oiticica's installation called Tropicalia (complete with two macaws - although the gallery attendant let slip that they speak in English, not Portuguese) that led to Caetano's album of that name. Anyway, it's fascinating, really funky, and fun too. (There aren't many exhibitions that my children -- seven and five -- enjoy as much as I do.) Since then, I've been re-playing Soul Jazz's recent Tropicalia compilation non-stop. If you're coming at this completely afresh, start here: an absolutely essential purchase.
