Show 6.1, Full Review: Kendrick Lamar & Ari Lennox at The Governor's Ball

Why does his voice have to be so annoying?

Why can’t it have the charm and character of, say, Ari Lennox’s voice?

It was Sunday, June 11, 2023, I went to The Governor’s Ball in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens, NYC.

It was the last day. We all knew who the headliner was. Ari Lennox wasn’t even originally on the bill. She’s team Dreamville. And he’s always going to be team TDE. It’s pre-peak beef between Kendrick and Drake, and the several seconds J. Cole was involved before he smartly pulled out.

“Backseat” and “Break Me Off” back-to-back had my eyes fixed on Ari and her gorgeous pink and black two-piece outfit. Maybe the outfit also had some of the crowd stunned. Or maybe this confirms why I’m not a huge fan of huge festivals. Festivals are where people come to be part of the experience, but not where attendees truly experience the music and the artist. There’s multiple stages, multiple ways to be distracted. It felt like the audience reaction to Ari was that she was a distraction from the main, final-day headliner.

But it’s her twang that truly pulled me in at this show- the same twang that pulled me in when I first heard “Shea Butter” as a Spotify recommendation. It’s a Southern twang mixed with the inflections I would hear growing up by South Jamaica, Queens. She’s the girl next door turned next up. I wish I was closer to her on stage. I wish I was close enough to tell her team that she deserved a better set design, a better logo to match her smooth stage presence.

She met my expectations. I had seen her at Miami Jazz in the Gardens just months prior. She was a bit better now. But this isn’t the type of crowd who would notice. This isn’t the crowd that finger snapped and swayed their hips to “Waste My Time” like I just did.

She did her job. She’s getting me through a long day with a pounding headache so I can get to seeing Kendrick for the first time.

The sun was setting. My headache was getting worse. But I’m committed to the moment.

Kendrick hit the stage with “N95”, wearing a bright orange outfit- a liberated prisoner with first day out energy. “Element” came next. The jams for the day one fans came after. I’m not a day one Kendrick fan.

I love his substance, but not his voice. Undoubtedly talented as a lyricist, songwriter, and MC, and perhaps the best of this era, I can’t get over how screeching his voice is to me when he ventures into high-pitched Kendrick. And I get it- his screeching voice is his of his mental asylum- worthy alter ego. Or is it truly the main ego that put its hatred of Drake on full display during the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show.

How can a Pulitzer Prize winning, top 10 musical talent of this generation have a voice that causes so much cognitive dissonance among some music nerds like me? It relegates him to number 3 of the top 3 even though I’m more than accepting of anyone claming his talent as the very top.

It also doesn’t help that some of his most fervent fans like to set up mosh pits that I have to elbow my way out of.

And so the Kendrick songs I love have minimal screeching.

The ominous beat of “Swimming Pools” hovered over the crowd, and I nodded my head up and down as if to say the concert had finally started for me. The G-funk, talk box entrance to “LOYALTY” was next, and I was wishing that Rihanna would pop out for a surprise. “HUMBLE.” came after and the crowd bopped in unison. Another ominous beat hovered to lead into my favorite verse on “Money Trees”. A highlight of Kendrick’s set was “Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe”- not just for the greatness of the song, but that he shouted out performing it SOBs years ago. For all the veteran NYC concertgoers, SOBs was the spot to catch amazing talent on the rise.

As the live horns of “Alright” played, I knew there were only a few minutes left of Kendrick on stage.

And when it ended, I turned to follow the brightly-colored trees along the pathway to exit the park. I went home. I checked a box and accomplished my mission.

During its initial general public onsale date, I bought tickets to the Grand National Tour featuring Kendrick Lamar and SZA. I got 2 300-level seats for $49.50 each. I didn’t realize they could be so cheap.

After the Super Bowl, I did something for the first time: I resold my tickets back to Ticketmaster for $170 each.

What that should tell you is that you must see Kendrick Lamar perform live at least once in your life. But if you need to save money or if you want to use the profits for another show you think you will enjoy more, it’s ok if your first time seeing K. Dot live is your last time.

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About the author:

Cris Mercado is the award-winning Founder & CEO of GrantAnswers, an NYC-based data, strategy & consulting firm founded in 2013. His journey from undocumented immigrant to award-winning entrepreneur & immigrant rights advocate has been highlighted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, MTV, and Forbes. He has helped +1000s launch careers in tech & secure acceptances to top colleges & programs. His speaking engagements for the likes of Teach for America and the US Chamber of Commerce encompass immigration, career development, entrepreneurship, and tech diversity & inclusion. He is also an avid concertgoer for +25 years and counting, and likes to tell stories about it.