Secondhand Setlists

The mind of D’Anthony Carlos, aka Goldlink, moves a mile a minute, delivering lyrics both filthy and sophisticated that turn your body and mind inside out. That’s exactly what happened at the first date of his tour at the Fonda Theatre.

From the onset, Carlos unleashed a slew of musings on infidelity, black pride, and numerous of “bitches.” Riding on pulsing beats and clever hip-hop samples, Carlos’ hyper-fast lyrics showered the crowd in awe and excitement. And it came so naturally to Carlos: “No beginner’s luck, bitch,” he taunts before dipping into a Timbaland/Magoo sample on the romping opener “Bedtime Story.”

This track also features a significant line stating “the allure that Hova rapped about” referencing Jay Z’s homage to the thrill of sinful living; the line speaks to some of the complications that surround Carlos’ lyrics, which I’ll admit may be seen as violent or sexist to many.

But I would like to argue in his favor.  Firstly, because I’m all for taking the word “bitch” back and turning it into a term of endearment/power. Secondly, Carlos’ music grapples with the understanding of his indiscretions and how they’ve become habits he can’t seem to break. The early morning confessional “Late Night” features a man openly admitting and apologizing for his late night “chattin’ and interactin’ with… other people”. Beach-side lounging in “Palm Trees” loses its charm when the facade begins to crack; “babygirl you know what’s up. Fuckin’, makin’ love and fuckin’, then I fuck it up,” his feelings end up as his downfall.

In the end, he pulls it all together quite well, rattling off over 20 songs, an impressive feat considering Carlos’ lyrical density. He satisfied fans both new and old, drawing gems from his God Complex days while showcasing new bangers such as the Missy-sampling “Spectrum.” Coupled with a solid backing vocalist, guitarist and producer, Carlos possesses all the right tools for a successful tour run.

A line from the outro of “Late Night” goes: “Even when they say that he’s a bad guy, you hear shit but you find out how to tune it out.” It acts as a perfect description of Carlos’ character: just a guy, both good and bad, trying make it better through music. He’s still figuring it out, but he’s on the right track.