March 05--"(This) is so big, when you need a spotlight," Logic marveled in the midst of his sold-out show at Aragon Ballroom on Friday. It made him feel, he said, like Frank Sinatra.
For a rapper who first made a name for himself with self-released mixtapes, doubled his Chicago venue show size in a year (he headlined Riviera Theatre in 2015), and hit No. 1 on Billboard's R/Hip-Hop Albums chart with his sophomore major label effort, it was understandable that he would want to soak it all in. His fans reveled in the moment, too, rapping along throughout the set.
The artist's regal-sounding given name, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, belies his upbringing in Maryland. Logic's troubled childhood (which he has said included drug-addicted and drug-selling family members) and reflections on his rising career fueled the material on his major label debut, "Under Pressure." After that confessional storytelling, he turned to outer space for inspiration on his recent album, "The Incredible True Story." The concept album's tale takes place 100 years into the future, where two characters are searching for a planet called Paradise after Earth has been decimated.
His ambitious concept material was slickly delivered at the Aragon, but his more personal songs were lyrical highlights. Despite the dystopia-based themes, Logic's outlook was more hopeful than dire. "Peace, love and positivity" is what he preached, and songs such as the catchy "Fade Away," which turned the inevitability of death into motivation, and "Lord Willin'," with its inspiring lyrics, reflected this message. Even when revealing the lesser traits of humankind, such as on the affecting "Gang Related," the songs served more as cautionary tales than vitriol.
Logic showcased his considerable skill with freestyles and rapid-fire a capellas. His jazz-tipped soundscapes, coupled with lush production on many newer songs, gave a cinematic quality to match the sci-fi soundtrack themes of the night. He topped it off by wearing a space jumpsuit and displaying outer space images on a large LED screen flanking his DJ's setup.
It was a more earthly matter that could've used some editing, though. His long-winded shoutouts to individuals in the audience, while happily received, slowed the momentum a bit in an otherwise energetic set.
Althea Legaspi is a freelance critic.
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