Review: Big K.R.I.T. Revisits NYC’s Highline Ballroom

The cycle of redemption represents one of the many shining moments of any upcoming artist’s career. Big K.R.I.T. has completed that cycle as he performed at the same Highline Ballroom that booed him only two years ago while performing his Southern anthem “Country Sh*t.”

Now, “Country Sh*t” has a remix which features Southern heavyweights Ludacris and Bun B. He has one of the most discussed projects of 2011 with Return of 4Eva and he headlines shows across the country including this year’s third consecutive invitation to Austin’s SXSW. His latest project, 4Eva N A Day, was met last week with much thanks and praise from his loyal fan-base and rap critics.Things are looking a little different than that day in June 2010.

Accompanied by Big Sant playing the role of hypeman and DJ Wally Sparks, the Mississippi native was in good company knowing that the crowd wanted to hear every last syllable of any rap he was willing to perform. DJ Wally Sparks tested the waters with Outkast’s “Elevator (Me & You)” which elicited a rowdy response with waving arms and reminiscing thoughts. “I know I’m in the birthplace, but we’re reppin’ where we from this evening,” warned Sparks. The crowd didn’t mind one bit. For all I knew, we were somewhere in the Bible Belt. The then-futuristic sounding computer keyboard beat of Clipse’s “What Happened To That Boy,” and its thumping bass had the venue moving in sequence.

K.R.I.T. entered from off-stage after the first chorus of his single “Boobie Miles,” a saxophone-laced tune that sounds like every aviation pilot’s theme music. The chorus ends with “You have to play it till the end/The only difference between a winner and a loser is a winner play until he wins,” a rhyme that only works because his country drawl’s pronunciation makes it fit.

Big K.R.I.T. donned a Public Enemy jacket over a black tee that read “Heroes Eventually Die” with “Black Panther 1970s” on the sleeve. Black and red Jordans hugged his feet and a wooden chain with a cutout of his home state banged on his chest with every sudden movement. A stack of properly folded black hand towels rested on the corner of the DJ’s table ready to be drenched in sweat.

During the performance of “Hometown Hero,” off of Krit Wuz Here, a fan near the front held up a shirt that read the same thing. K.R.I.T. grabbed the shirt and bounced on his toes holding up the shirt as the crowd jumped with him in unison to the Adele-sampled track.

“This is kind of an anniversary,” said K.R.I.T. as the DJ cued up the song the crowd anticipated all night. “I meant what I said then and I mean what I say now,” he said as “Country Shit” began to play and the crowd bumped to the narrative of his upbringing. Toward the end of the night, “The Vent,” off of Return of 4Eva, was met with church-like attention and sincerity as the song does say, “it might expand your mind, if you listen to it.”

‘Twas a glorious revisiting of the place which once rejected him and Big K.R.I.T. came back for his stamp of approval from New York.