Bow Wow isn't Lil anymore (and he knows his Missouri from his Kansas). Photo by Sue Pfanmuller/Special to The Star
The Up Close and Personal Tour began on the defensive. Even before the first song was performed, Lil Mama defiantly told the Sprint Center audience that she was most definitely not a one-hit-wonder.
It's an understandable concern for Lil Mama and the four other acts who performed for approximately 11,000 pop music fans Friday night. Each artist (average age: 18) has already experienced a remarkable level of success that will prove difficult to sustain.
Headliner Chris Brown needn't worry. His 80-minute performance demonstrated why the charismatic 18-year-old is already an established star.
If you can overlook such old-fashioned conventions as live vocals and expert musicianship, Brown's show was extraordinarily entertaining. When Brown's microphone was turned on, he sang along, but only when not focused on executing flashy dance moves. The other entertainers on the bill mostly operated under the same premise.
At least Brown featured a drummer. Turntables aside, it was the only instrument on stage all night. Vigorous live drumming added potent urgency to "Gimme That." In a night loaded with frothy pop delights, it was the best moment.
The biggest thrill, however, was a surprise cameo appearance by Rihanna. Introduced as the "Cinderella" to Brown's "Prince of Pop and R&B," Rihanna was charmingly courted by Brown during a rendition of "Umbrella."
Brown was also aided by a spectacular visual presentation that included lasers, pyrotechnics, imaginative video screens and a team of terrific dancers.
Yet it was Brown's handsome features that were of greatest interest to the female-dominated audience. A circular secondary stage provided fans at the back of the Sprint Center with a close look at Brown's shirtless torso. He later requested forgiveness.
"To the parents," Brown acknowledged, "I want to say a special apology for all the grinding and stuff I was doing tonight."
Brown's sole weakness is a dearth of strong material. Considering he can breathe life into pedestrian fare like "Yo (Excuse Me Miss), imagine what he could do with "Billie Jean"-caliber songs.
When he appeared at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in 2005, Brown was challenged by powerhouse opening performances by Lil Wayne and Ne-Yo. While each of his four support acts offered flashes of greatness Friday night, none came close to equaling Brown's dominating star turn.
Bow Wow, 20, was the comparative veteran of the night. He's in the unenviable position of attempting to shift his image from cute novelty act to viable adult artist. He didn't entirely succeed.
Bow Wow struggled to keep the highly-charged audience energized during a lackluster hour-long set. "Girlfriend" and "Ghetto Girls" were well-received, but it was his athleticism and personality that shone brightest. Bow Wow also gets credit for being the only star to acknowledge that he wasn't performing in Kansas.
The audience adored a frenetic 15-minute set by industrious self-promoter Soulja Boy. Yet an interpretation of his signature dance "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" was disappointingly disjointed. The gaunt 17-year-old seemed to be hampered by the very real need to continually tug on his uncooperative pants.
Husky 17-year-old Sean Kingston seemed rushed and out-of-sync in his brief appearance. Rather than repeatedly exhorting his fans to "put your hands up," Kingston would have benefited from focusing on his cheerful sugar-coated reggae.
The brilliantly minimalist hit "Lip Gloss" anchored a set of old-school throwback sounds by petite teenager Lil Mama. Her concern about one-hit-wonder status may be unnecessary. She was, in fact, poppin'.
And what does it matter if Lil Mama and her tour mates are forgotten in a few years? For one memorable evening, at least, they provided a receptive Kansas City audience with hours of pure pop perfection.
Bill Brownlee / Special to The Star
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