Kendrick Lamar started his Dunedin show with a bang tonight, kicking off with a pyrotechnic explosIon that sent the 16,000 fans crazy.
The Pulitzer-winning rapper opened his set at Forsyth Barr Stadium with his hit song DNA, and the crowd were on their feet from the first beat.
Lamar was dressed in all black alone in centre stage, his band to the side, with a large screen on stage behind them.
Excitement levels were high all day for those queuing for the concert, but while the show was advertised as starting at 7.30pm, it wasn't until after 9pm that he appeared.
Among the queuing fans were the Christchurch trio of Katie Ryan, Izzy Bloxham and Jodie Worthington, who arrived at the stadium at about 10.30am. They were not the first there, however, as others had arrived as early as 7am.
Katie, a year 13 pupil, said the three had bought "standing'' tickets, and were hoping their early arrival meant they could be first in behind those with VIP tickets, close to the stage.
Asked why she was so keen on Lamar, she said as a rapper, he was able to express ``so much''.
She said he was not just a good rapper.
"His lyrics are so accurate politically in terms of him describing his struggle with race.
"As someone living in New Zealand, that's a great way to have a glimpse at what the struggle is like in America.''
He also expressed that through music that was "very well put together''.
The three were eagerly looking forward to tonight's concert.
"We're so excited,'' she said.
More than 16,000 people have bought tickets to tonight's concert, according to promoters Live Nation Australia.
Possible sightings of Lamar's aeroplane popped up on social media this afternoon, with a photo of a private jet at Dunedin Airport.
The plane landed about 2pm, but there has been no confirmation of whether Lamar was on board.
