Concert Film On Amazon Documents One Of The Greatest Rap Tours Of The 21st Century
By now, just about everyone on Earth has heard of Kendrick Lamar through his music, his production deal with the creators of South Park, or even his brutal rap beef with Drake, which raged on from March through May of 2024 with some scathing diss records which ignited social media. Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Big Steppers’ tour broke records in 2023 for being the highest-grossing tour with a rap headliner of all time, offering some intense visuals, a powerful stage presence, and a few special guests along the way. In case you missed the chance to see the tour live, Amazon Prime Video has you covered with a music special that covers the whole show.
Kendrick Lamar Live From Paris
Kendrick Lamar Live From Paris: The Big Steppers Tour provides a cinematic look at the live show, with a view that’s arguably better than the one you’d get in person. The camera work allows viewers at home to get up close and personal with the Compton, California rapper and see an intimate side of the special effects-laden show that wouldn’t be possible with even the best seats in the house.
Grammy Award Winning Performance
The performance was nominated for Best Music Film at the Grammy Awards and has brought in millions of viewers who weren’t able to experience the show in person or just wanted to relive the once-in-a-lifetime experience. The show is structured around the narrative of Kendrick’s 2022 album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, with a few detours to explore the hits of his back catalog along the way.
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers album centers on his desire to seek help for his repressed trauma by getting closer to God, undergoing intense therapy, and opening up to those around him. To represent this, Academy Award-winning performer Helen Mirren takes on the role of Kendrick’s therapist and walks him through the trials and tribulations represented by each song.
As Kendrick Lamar examines his struggles with sex addiction and infidelity, he plays hits from Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, such as “N95,” “Worldwide Steppers,” and “Rich Spirit.” As he succumbs to his ego and faces setbacks with his therapy, he performs songs such as “Humble” and “DNA.” At certain points in the show, the stage transforms, sending Kendrick and a trio of hazmat-suit-clad backup dancers into the rafters in a giant glass box.
Intricate Sets That Have To Be Seen To Believed
The show put on in Kendrick Lamar Live From Paris: The Big Steppers Tour is more than just a concert experience, as the rapper utilizes cutting social commentary, visual spectacle, and narrative-driven backstory to each song, making the hour and 43-minute performance feel more like a feature film than half of the movies in theaters today. In order to create the set pieces and choreography for the show, Kendrick and his team of producers and directors spent 18 months meticulously crafting each individual component, resulting in NASA levels of technical fine-tuning, according to co-director Dave Free.
Streaming On Amazon Prime
REVIEW SCORE
Kendrick Lamar Live From Paris: The Big Steppers Tour was filmed on October 22, 2022, at the Accor Arena and broadcast live through Amazon Music and Amazon’s official Twitch channel. The release date coincided with the 10-year anniversary of another of Kendrick’s critically acclaimed albums, Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City. For those who were able to attend, the concert film serves as an incredible memory, while those daunted by the massive price tag still get to enjoy the show from home.
For Kendrick Lamar fans, new and old, Live From Paris: The Big Steppers Tour is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. The concert is a major spectacle, well deserving of its many accolades, and stands solid at 4.5 out of 5 stars overall.
