Kendrick Lamar @ Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, 29 Aug

With doors opening at six it’s a gradual, trickling start to Bellahouston Park’s final Glasgow Summer Sessions show this evening. The patchy rain clouds appropriately clear as first support act Bugzy Malone finishes his set, making way for Pharrell Williams' legendary N.E.R.D takeover of the stage. The high energy performance moves through the group's familiar back catalogue and includes Lapdance, Rockstar and She Wants to Move. Despite an impressive stage presence and a phenomenal group of dancers, Williams' attempts at call and response are often met by a flat crowd, who are perhaps averagely too young to remember N.E.R.D during their early prime.

The set draws to a close with Lemon from their 2017 album No_One Ever Really Dies and so ends on a definitive high. Dancer Mette Towley, whose performance in the single’s video was a deserved viral success, commands the stage. Her hypnotising solo is projected onto the screens and edited incredibly so as to cut from her live performance to a perfectly synced, visually reworked version of the routine. N.E.R.D rewind the song and play it again from start to finish – and rightly so, finally getting the mood bang on for tonight's headliner.

As the sun begins to set, the crowd swells as all three stage screens are filled with the now-familiar ‘DAMN. Tour’ artwork. A vintage-styled, tongue-in-cheek martial arts video begins, featuring Kendrick Lamar playing his DAMN. alter-ego, Kung-Fu Kenny. The now infamous Fox News recording featured on the album, and some hype-inducing fireworks, lead Lamar himself to take to the stage. Explosive hit DNA. opens the set along with fifty flying pints and a flare in the audience.

Lamar’s silhouette has us transfixed as his undeniable ability and professionalism is made instantly clear. Moving seamlessly into Element, the crowd are then sent into overdrive with To Pimp a Butterfly’s King Kunta, singing back word for word, track after track. Their familiarity with all his music, be it hit single or album track is something reminiscent of an idealised pop superstar. 'Pulitzer Kenny' flashes behind Lamar, a reminder that King Kenny’s multiple alter-egos have led to one of the world’s highest creative accolades.

Early release Swimming Pools is next, followed by a medley of DAMN. tracks including the Rihanna-featuring LOYALTY. Throughout, the visuals and lighting are thrilling as the show cuts between Lamar alone on stage and martial arts, arcade game-inspired videos. There’s no need for anyone else here, dancers or otherwise, as this crouching, cloaked rap genius commands total control. An entirely a capella version of HUMBLE. shows that chanted chorus sans-music can be unifying.

Lamar’s encore of earlier hit Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe perfectly ends tonight's fast-paced show. Stood centre stage, Lamar's final words ring loud across Bellahouston Park: “Glasgow, I will be back.” We can’t bloody wait.