Logic Turns Down For Empowerment

Logic w/ Big Lenbo and Joey Bada$$
ShoWare Center, Kent, WA
07.13.17

Most rap songs today feature lyrics that follow one of two themes: sex/drugs/alcohol or equality/racism/empowerment. So, when most of Logic’s lyrics fell into the second category, it was nice, but not particularly shocking; what gave his performance its real shock value were the moments between songs, when he would take those progressive lyrics a step further.

The night opened with Big Lenbo and Joey Bada$$, two rappers both performing smaller sets with a boiled-down-to-the-basics, DIY feel. As the arena filled, the early crowd ate it up: cheering between songs, hyping up the performers, and singing along to a few familiar tracks. Joey Bada$$’s “Devastated” proved the be the perfect ending before the headliner. The audience jumped, sang, and Snapchatted the whole track like a little caffeine shot to prep for Logic.

“Here we go, am I ready? Are you ready? Are they ready? Are we ready?” The opening lyrics of Logic’s latest release rang through the screaming crowd as everyone frantically searched for the rapper, jumping and taking pictures when he finally made his appearance. The energy of the night escalated as the crowd shouted along to “Everyone,” followed by the inevitable loving mention of his wife, an introduction to various crowd members, and even a game of Mario Cart mid-performance.

Increasingly so on his latest album, Logic doesn’t shy away from touchy subjects. Multiple tracks address racial equality, LGBT+ rights, mental illness, etc. and while these themes are undoubtedly becoming more prevalent in the general rap game, Logic takes it further than others.

Early in the night, he talked to the crowd for a while about how each and every person in the room was deeply valued, making his fans repeat the phrase “I’m special” a few times before moving on. Then about half way through the night, his track “Anxiety” came up, welcoming an anecdote about his previous struggles with mental illnesses. And finally, after another moving suicide prevention speech and the performance of “1-800-273-8255,” all lights were turned off in the venue, and all sound silenced so that all attention could be turned toward the Suicide Prevention Lifeline number projected on the stage.

Logic is an incredible performer. With fun, energetic songs and the charismatic presence to fit them, his set never took too much of a dip, and easily kept the crowd interested and entertained the whole time. However, his performance is almost more compelling because of those moments between tracks where it becomes evident how deeply and genuinely he cares for his fans. Providing them with stories of his own life dealing with racism and mental illnesses, hotline numbers, and uplifting reassurances, Logic is a rare artist that is open and feels so strongly about the complete well-being of his fan base.

Review and photos by Lulu Dawson

Logic