Kanye West, Rihanna, NERD, Lupe Fiasco at Staples June 7.

Bigger than any rapper, Kanye West is a pop star, conceptual creator, artistic collaborator (LV and Murakami) and male fashion icon.     I have been lucky enough to see Kanye perform many times this last year.    Last nights show definitely upped the ante in terms of production value.    A set was built to resemble the surface of a fictitious planet.    With fire shooting and smoke billowing thru the floor to increase effects. Video ran throughout the show with planets, asteroids and general space visuals interacting with "Jane" his computer guide on his spaceship. 
 

When he performed Goldigger a giant goldfinger painted avatar of what looked like the perfect porn-star appeared about 7 feet tall and he sang and danced to it's image.    The performance was all Kanye with a back up singer and orchestra shoved below the stage with no lights.   I could see them as silhouettes.  (This was the only really bizarre thing of the show)   Is there a pop star without a huge ego?   Also in attendance were Brian Grazer, Fergie, Tobey Maquire, Fatima and Jeremy Scott. Rihanna rocked the house in a very  Thierry Mugler ensemble.   She is just one of the most beautiful otherworldly creatures I have ever seen.   Black skin tight leather pants strutted back and forth in her also futuristic set.   

Light sabers worked the stage during the upbeat numbers.

NERD performed with the coolest kids on stage.   Their set was the most musical and rock driven.    Lots of band members, grinding guitars and Pharrell's sexy swagger.   There were a lot of skinny jeans, high top Dunks and boxer short butts rocking out.    

It was one of the youngest crowds ever.     Several extremes.    Very cool, chic kids mixed with really badly dressed hoochie coochie styles.     Lots of unnecessary skin flashing when it should not have been.   Note:  You can only pull off leggings and a short shirt if you look like Rihanna.   Yes 5.10" at 130 pounds can do it, otherwise steer clear.

Other trends worth mentioning: 80's hip hop skat8r boi -
Headbands, sweatbands on heads and wrists, shade sunglasses, skinny jeans, all pants low low to the butt, ankle cuffs on boots, tube socks, hot pants with neon tights, army fatique shirts, M65 jackets, Neon t shirts,  printed hoodies, jeans that are way too long and low, 80's pumps, and members only style jackets.   NEON and Colorful sunglasses were everywhere. I would say it was a hybrid of a dogtown Zboy, and a Jamel Shabazz photo of NYC hip hoppers in Big Daddy Kane's era.

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