GoldLink is the latest songster to bless the NPR set with a Tiny Desk performance. Donning a graphic tea displaying the words "I Told You So!" the DC rapper made the six-piece orchestration his very own namesake for a medley lasting just under 15 minutes. The rapper/singer performed a selection of cuts from his first three projects: At What Cost, And After That, We Didn't Talk, and The God Complex.
GoldLink joked with audience members, "Thank y'all for being here. It's mad overwhelming lowkey," the room admittedly less stuffy than his usual bookings. Within minutes, GoldLink came into his own, brushing off his early jitters, coming into his own with "Some Girl," a cathartic breakdown of a summer fling gone awry. The thump of Steve Lacy's crash symbol on the og version was incidentally replaced by crisper strikes of the hi-hat and a more fluttery performance from his backup vocalists.
Of course, GoldLink standing on home soil in DC, was in his element in the foggy interior of team rehearsal. The eclectic singer has been known to delve into electro-acoustic territory for the sake of his art and is seemingly able channel the regional charm of Go-go without trampling over in a full head of steam.
Set List:
"Bedtime Story"
"Dark Skin Women"
"Some Girl"
"Pray Everyday (Survivor's Guilt)"
musical credit: D'Anthony Carlos (GoldLink), Kiara Brown (Kelow) (Poet), Elliot Skinner (Vocals), Grace Weber (Vocals), Billy Davis (Musical Director/Keyboardist), Alex Ben-Abdallah (Louie Lastic) (Bassist), Danny McKinnon (Guitarist), Darren Hanible (Lil Dream) (Drummer), Burt Jackson (Trumpet), Marvill Martin (Violinist)