A sharp 10 p.m. curfew didn't stop people from turning out to Tattoo to catch rising DMV rapper's GoldLink's first headlining set in Toronto. His 2014 mixtape, The God Complex, received praise from the likes of Complex, The FADER, and Pitchfork, and earned him a highly coveted co-sign from Rick Rubin.
It's easy to see the reasons the legendary hip-hop producer endorses the 21-year-old rapper. Dressed in a white tee and black leather jacket, he exuded confidence, and easily had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. He's a capable crooner, but he's better when rapping speedily over disco and house beats, drawing on '90s influences (see "Vroom," which cleverly interpolates Missy Elliott's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)") without being derivative.
The biggest reaction of the night was saved for "Sober Thoughts," his 2015 single produced by Montreal's Kaytranada, which had the crowd singing the infectiously catchy hook. In an alternate universe, it would be the biggest song on the radio, but for now it's a tantalizing taste of what's to come.
It's easy to see the reasons the legendary hip-hop producer endorses the 21-year-old rapper. Dressed in a white tee and black leather jacket, he exuded confidence, and easily had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. He's a capable crooner, but he's better when rapping speedily over disco and house beats, drawing on '90s influences (see "Vroom," which cleverly interpolates Missy Elliott's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)") without being derivative.
The biggest reaction of the night was saved for "Sober Thoughts," his 2015 single produced by Montreal's Kaytranada, which had the crowd singing the infectiously catchy hook. In an alternate universe, it would be the biggest song on the radio, but for now it's a tantalizing taste of what's to come.