Alright, let’s get it out of the way: Kanye West is a genius. Not that he needs to hear or read that. He already knows it and has been telling this to the masses since he first spit it through the wire. From his albums, the award shows, and radio and television appearances, we knew he could talk the talk. Any doubts that he could walk the walk have dissipated as he brought his “Glow in the Dark” Tour to Toronto last night. No one who laid witness to his performance will question whether hip hop is dead. “Dawg, are you f**kin’ kiddin’?!” as Kanye would put it. Mr. West and hip hop are more alive than ever.

Do not get it twisted. This was more than a hip hop show. Throw out all the stereotypes you have brewing in your head about rap concerts. There were no “wave your hands in the air…” chants, or a large posse hanging out on stage. There was no point in the evening where the most aesthetically pleasing women in the audience came up to dance. Nor were there any demands that the crowd yell, “Ho,” or any other monosyllabic words… All of it was gone. It was just Kanye up there alone on an incredible, planetary landscape set-up that was bigger than his ego. Along with the rolling planetary hills, Kanye was framed by a large curved screen that displayed other-worldly atmospheres and galaxies, and a platform that would elevate and tilt to suit Kanye’s needs. Kanye played the role of… well Kanye, who crash lands and is left alone on a planet with nobody but his talking spaceship Jane, clearly inspired by the movie “2001”. Kanye ran through many of his hits from all three of his albums, from “Jesus Walks” to “Diamonds from Sierra Leone” to “Stronger”. “Good Life” and “Flashing Lights” were highlights. In fact, every song was a highlight in its own way, as Kanye brought as much passion and energy to each song as he could muster. There was no “Workout Plan”, but the Kan-Man worked it out, running, leaping and dancing across the grand stage. There was no slowing down, except for a pause to take a drink as he had Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” play, immediately after serenading his mother with, “Hey Mama”.

It was mentioned that no girls were brought up on stage. However, Kanye did bring the eye candy out courtesy of Jane, who temporarily turned into a pair of scantily-clad, curvaceous, gold women, after Kanye complained to his machine, “I’ve been stuck on this planet for so long. I gotta get me some pussy!” Cue “Goldigger”. Kanye had the audience in the palm of his hands.

This brings me to my one criticism of the show: The Louis Vuitton Don’s acting chops. Kanye is no Denzel Washington. Hell, he is no Ice Cube when it comes to acting. His interactions with Jane throughout the theatrical concert experience were melodramatic at best. That being said, Kanye was there to entertain with his music, and he did that to the fullest.

Sidebar: Dear Kanye,

If you are reading this - because I know you like to read the reviews – please don’t bash me for panning your acting. I am an actor, so take it as constructive criticism and with a grain of salt. Perhaps I’ve given you a new challenge to tackle now that you’re at the top of the music game. Congrats on the stellar show!

Your friend and fan,

Brendan Jeffers

It was an unseasonably cold night in Toronto, but Kanye brought the hot sh!t, for a night that won’t soon be forgotten. “Glow in the Dark” was an absolute sonic tour de force that involved almost all the senses. It was a concert, so the smell of weed was definitely in the air. Our ears were blessed with Kanye’s timeless music. The stage and all its mind-blowing intricacies were a visual orgasm. And Kanye’s imagination and, fervor allowed us all for a moment to “touch the sky”.