Most University students when hearing about a rap show at the Jefferson Theater might envision barely discernable verses, overdriven beats and a boisterous crowd. Understandably, the audience at last week’s GoldLink show walked in with high hopes and latent reservations.
Thankfully, GoldLink and opening act Elhae shattered expectations. With creative twists and a generally well put together stage presence, the show was as fun as it was refreshing.
Elhae entered the stage with swagger that contradicted the apprehension of the crowd. Rap openers are notoriously hit-or-miss, and the crowd’s vibe reflected this sentiment. However, Elhae quickly showed the audience they would not be disappointed. After a quip about how tiny Charlottesville’s airport is, Elhae raised the energy with a groovy, well-balanced verse.
Mixing can make or break a show, and the soundwork at the Jefferson was prime. Elhae’s verse was delivered crisply and clearly, its inflections perfectly complementing the well produced beat upon which it was laid. His flow was neither corny nor cliché, unlike the majority of emerging rap acts; Elhae was a very likeable guy. Between each act, he cracked jokes about everything from Thomas Jefferson to Donald Trump, and the crowd ate it up. More than anything, Elhae was consistent. Each song had a catchy, clever beat with his distinctly playful flow in tow.
As the stage lay empty after Elhae’s energizing act, the crowd eagerly awaited any indication of the headliner’s appearance. They expected GoldLink’s posse, or maybe a few groupies to mollify them while they waited. Instead they were met with a woman sporting an electric violin and a bassist looking rather out of place. The crowd was glancing around and slightly confused. Was this the right show?
When GoldLink finally came to the stage, every facet of his performance had a definitive purpose. All his sun-drenched, R&B inspired beats were accentuated with fuzzy bass lines or a shimmering violin accent. There was speculation before GoldLink’s act as to whether he could really pull off those superhuman one-breath verses, or if his singing was mere autotune magic.
The answer came resoundingly: GoldLink is the real deal. Every aspect of his creatively-arranged setup perfectly meshed together in a show as vibrant as it was an absolute blast.
Rap acts tend to get pigeonholed. GoldLink and Elhae were all too aware of this, and gave the crowd something new and welcoming. Their show was everything from fun, to hilarious, to genre-bending. Charlottesville would be lucky to have them again.
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