Few things have the power and impact that live music gives to a mass of people. Ask anyone who went to The Incredible World Tour at the Uptown Theater this weekend and they would tell you it couldn’t have been any better. Hip-hop artist Robert Hall, better known by his stage name Logic, blew the roof off the place in front of a sold-out crowd of 1,700 on Feb. 23.
Before the doors even opened there was a massive line trailing down Broadway St. for two blocks. The buzzing mass couldn’t wait to see this up-and-coming rapper spit his stuff. By the time everyone got in there, it was nothing but electricity for the whole night.
Logic managed to sell out the lesser Granada Theatre in Lawrence, so the tour was forced to move to a larger venue. The release of his sophomore album “The Incredible True Story” has sparked a revolution for Logic’s “Hip-Hop-Heads.”
The album follows the journey of a space crew looking for a new, hopefully incredible, world. Spaceships and images of stars danced across the oversized lightboard behind the performer as he showed off his craft. The energy of the show spread through the crowd and didn’t let up all night.
Also part of the 1,700 people who came to vibe with Logic was local rock and hip-hop legend Tech N9ne. Before the show even started he was seen on his own personal balcony overlooking the crowd, hyping himself and the masses up with some prime head banging and dancing.
One has to wonder if well-established artists are visiting their shows, could that mean even more future success? The rapper thanked the recognition but stayed humble throughout the show, constantly thanking the crowd for being there with him and expressing his gratitude for everyone who has helped him reach this height of notoriety.
Even with this humble nature, the man threw it all down. He periodically turned off the beat to emphasize the words he said and how important it was to love each other, consistently referring to his audience as a family. It isn’t any surprise that he has such fantastic followers with his attitudes and lyrical emphasis.
Most of the themes in his songs relate to being with friends and working his way up the performative ladder. It isn’t fair to put Logic in a box, though, as he alludes to just about every problem or feeling one could imagine. A true voice of the people, the man wants to represent everything that is good about the world in his music.
Inviting presence, humility, spot-on showmanship and, of course, bomb rhymes rounded out what had to be the best Tuesday night in Kansas City. Logic’s gradual grind to the top has been a labor of love for the space adventurer. His stop in Kansas City was met with utter adulation and unending applause.
There is no doubt that his next visit will be much of the same and much more. Until then, he continues to write his own incredible true story across the states, wowing audiences and exploring the spaces along his tour.