"Hip Hop Saved My Life" -- And I Almost Died In the Process

Last night I went to the best concert EVER. It was the much hyped Glow In the Dark Tour featuring Kanye West, Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D. Trust me, it was amazing. Despite all of the flooding in the entire eastern Iowa area, which forced us to take a normal 1 hour ride home from the Quad Cities and turn it into a ridiculous 3 hour detour on backroads, we made it to and from the concert at the iWireless Center safely. Now on to the show.

First up was Lupe Fiasco. So legit. Having taken a Hip Hop Politics class that was obsessed with him in the spring semester, I was very familiar with his music, however, I had no idea just how good he was live. He started off a show that just expanded on itself, exactly like the concert as a whole. Some highlights for me were "Hip Hop Saved My Life," "Streets on Fire," and of course the permeating anthem "Superstar." He truly put on a great show with help from extraordinary vocalists Matthew Santos (my new obsession) and Nikki Jean. His high energy started off what was to be a night to remember with ferocity not often seen on stage, save for his tour mate Mr. West.

Next up was the incredibly talented Rihanna. She literally brought the house down! She started off with fan fave "Breakin Dishes" and came out in the most obnoxious/fierce black leather dress which she then ripped off showing her amazing body in a skintight leather unitard sort of thing. It blew my mind. After passing through early hits like "Pon de Replay" and "SOS," she slowed it down and did the duo of songs "Unfaithful" and current radio smash "Take a Bow." What came next I never could have expected. ATTENTION SCOPE: She did a cover of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes." It pains me to say this, but it almost sounded better than the original. The gunshots never sounded so sweet :) From there she sang another perfect choice, Lauryn Hill's classic "Doo Wop (That Thing)," which also made the crowd go wild. Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, I realized just how wrong I was.

Towards the end of her set, after singing most of her ever-expanding catalog of singles like, there was one clear omission: "Umbrella." She started off, sounding flawless as always, and then the biggest surprise of the night came. None other than my personal idol, and her part time lover, CHRIS BROWN came on stage to perform with her!!! Ahhhhh!!!! Needless to say I freaked out.

At the end of her set, as she was thanking everyone (a little more than usual because Moline was the last stop on the tour - sorry if you wanted to see it) she announced N.E.R.D. wasn't there. This made me upset because they are one of my favorite alternative hip hop groups out there. Oh well....I saw Chris Brown.

After an extravagant set change, it was time for Kanye. Of course this was one of the most epic concerts of the year....or ever, and it certainly lived up to it's enormous hype. Kanye West took us into a world where he had just crash landed with his spaceship in an unknown planet and from then on never let us go. As I watched this performer, strategically the only one on stage, yet still commanding every eye in the place, I realized just how smart, talented, and crative he is. I had forgotten that with all of the ego-stroking and headline grabbing comments he makes. I also realized just how many hits he has had. I will spare you the list of all of them, but a few of my faves were "Diamonds From Sierra Leone," "Can't Tell Me Nothin," "Jesus Walks," 'Through the Wire," a ten minute rendition of "Good Life" which could have gone on for ten more easily, "Stronger," a hilarious "Golddigger" with an amazing electronic woman being played by the spaceship's computer on a large screen, and also "Flashing Lights." They all just blew my mind.

Kanye performed the entire time with the highest energy I have ever seen at a concert. No joke. I also really enjoyed and appreciated his comments towards the end where he spoke about using his creative energy in a constructive manner (maybe thats just the hip hop politics student inside of me) as well as reaching for your dreams. It was inspiring.

So even though I could have died in a flood coming home, and I-80 got shut down causing a 3 AM joy ride in the dark, I will surely never forget my experience Glow(ing) In the Dark.

Edit: I would also like to thank LiveNation for such a great concert ;)