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Jameela Jamil has just dropped a new episode of ‘Wrong Turns With Jameela Jamil’ that gives us some charmingly gruesome behind-the-scenes gossip about Kendrick Lamar, the musician boyfriend, opening for Kendrick Lamar on tour. Impatient fans, lost lyrics, and a phone vibrating at the worst possible moment were the ingredients of the story.
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Jamil recalled that Blake was subjected to situations where the crowds were there just for Kendrick Lamar—not for him. Front rows, lit up by stage lights, were filled with people staring at him like, ‘When the hell is Kendrick coming on?’ To make matters worse, Blake was singing the song ‘Don’t Miss It,’ which has so many lyrics that he normally keeps his phone nearby to go through them. But in one particularly cruel instance, he forgot to put his phone on airplane mode. So there he was, struggling to remember the words while notifications started blowing up—live, on stage. ‘You can’t fucking get off the fucking stage,’ Jamil joked mimicking the impatient audience. ‘Bring Kendrick on.’
That post quickly stirred up reactions from fans who either sympathized with Blake’s predicament or defended him against the concert-goers who sneered at Blake. One user questioned how ridiculous it is for people to get mad at opening acts: “If you don’t want to see who’s opening, just arrive later.” Another fan coupled that with the assertion that standing-only venues make that difficult, but that shouldn’t be an excuse to disrespect the performer, arguing: “The headliner isn’t coming out any sooner whether the opener plays or not.”
Some defended Blake’s art while lamenting that he’s yet to be a household name. “I saw James live for the first time in 2013,” said one fan. “I can’t understand how he isn’t a household name! He’s so talented, with such raw talent.” Others chimed in with, “James Blake is their favorite rapper’s favorite artist,” acknowledging his broad influence.
Some fans shared their own stories about seeing Blake open for Kendrick, claiming Blake had won over the crowds despite the initial reserve. “I saw James open for Kendrick in London. Easily one of the best opening acts,” one concertgoer reminisced. Another admitted that they had taken a trip just to see the two performers: definite proof of the existence of a Venn Diagram for Blake and Lamar fans.
Of course, there were some that weren’t just in it for the jokes or the music. One user derailed the whole conversation by commenting on wars going on in the world, to which another replied, “There’s only so much people without any power can advocate.” But, on a lighter note, most of the talk stayed pretty buoyant, many just glad to see some appreciation for Blake—even if it was secondhand embarrassment.
Jamil’s episode clearly hit the spot with its hilarious and dead-on depiction of the dark arts of playing for a dead crowd. So, while Blake may have had one or two bad nights on the road, the good vibes surrounding him give the impression that his talents are appreciated—or that everybody was just there for Kendrick.
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If you have ever been the opening act in a show where everyone was in the dark about who you were, take heart because James Blake has been there. And if nothing else comes from the experience, there is the comfort of knowing that you remembered to put your phone on airplane mode!
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
