LxEnts, yesterday, found themselves in turmoil. The stress of decision making almost too much. Team Hudson or Team Luda? Mr Hudson and friends (Kid Cudi and Kanye) were playing at the Roundhouse for the iTunes Festival and Luda was headling at the Indig02. After much deliberation, the LxEnts team decided that Luda took this one as we reasoned that we had seen Kanye many times before and if you've seen him once...Upon finding out the event was an under 18's AND sponsored by Choice, my expectations swiftly plummeted from low to zero in 0.0 seconds. LxEnts had been here before...the formula - a below average uk support, followed by a 'rave' for the 'children' to keep them 'entertained' to finish with a lack-lustre 20 minute shoddy excuse for a performance from the headliner and lot's of angry 'children' causing 'beef' with each other in order to vent their frustration. History repeating? It certainly was to begin with. After hearing EVERY single grim(e)/Funky/'urban' track in the whole stratosphere *yawn*, we were eventually graced with the presence of the one we had been WAITING for. I made a point of checking my watch for the show start, I was so convinced it would be over before it begun. 1hr and 20 mins later...Luda was STILL GOING HARD!
Luda has been in the bizz for 9 years and his set list was more than proof of that! Most used expression of the night by the LxEnts team 'Damn, I forgot about that one' - standard! He played ALL the classics as well as the underground tracks for the 'hardcore' Luda fans and his energy on stage was electric. Supported by his right hand man 'Lil Fate' and his amazing DJ, Luda gave his heart and soul and beyond to his British fans with a lil extra on top for good measure. Of course, a tribute to The King of Pop was slotted neatly into his set. The mood of the venue dropped on a most dramatic scale when the first bars of 'Man In The Mirror' reverberated around the room but lifted somewhat with follow up track 'Remember The Time'. Luda gave the crowd just enough time to say their private goodbyes to Michael in their own headspace before cranking up the atmosphere straight out of the roof with the continuation of his set list. He made it clear he had been told to vacate the stage once his 'hour' slot was up but paid that warning no mind as he continued to bang out hit after hit for a further 20 mins, which tipped the venue into the 'danger zone' with regards to curfew laws. What more could we ask for?
Ludacris is under-rated - FACT! Ludacris knows how to put on a show without the reliability of elaborate stage settings, 'flashing lights', scantily if not naked women parading around him and 'special celebrity guests' - FACT! Ludacris embodies the 'hunger' many rappers have replaced with fame, fortune and greed - FACT! Ludacris showed love and respect to the UK crowd - period! Luda - you were right? that 'Number One Spot'? - off the checklist!
LxEnts
