No sooner had the euphoric fan replenished his energy, lit something up and started dancing again, he was manhandled off stage by security. Talk about a buzzkill.
It was one of many memorable moments on a hyper-real night of hip-hop, one that promised much after Schoolboy - one of the year's breakout hip-hop stars - sold so many tickets the show was moved from the relatively tiny Studio to the Logan Campbell Centre.
That's a venue more than three times the size, and it was heaving with hip-hop fans ready to party right from Isaiah Rashad's sweaty opening set of grinding Southern bass lopes and slurred grooves.
It was the perfect set up for Schoolboy's hit-heavy set that came crammed with many of the highlights from his slightly wayward album Oxymoron of earlier this year, delivered in a relentlessly energetic and near faultless performance.
It might have only been just over an hour, but Schoolboy's energy levels shined throughout, like his excited star jumps during Collard Green's thumping shuffle, his machine gun-miming shenanigans during Break the Bank, and his orchestral direction during Hell of a Night's clubby vibe.
Schoolboy - real name Quincey Matthew Hanley - was even better when getting as grimy as possible, like the thrilling grunt of Gangsta, the sinister grind of The Purge, the manic Hands on the Wheel, and the clipped chorus of early hit There He Go.
Best of all was Oxymoron, the title track and sole encore that proved this Schoolboy might be relatively new on the scene, but he's capable of delivering a rap masterclass that - judging by those light fittings - very nearly bought the roof down.
Schoolboy Q and Isaiah Rashad
Where: Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland
When: Friday, June 13
- nzherald.co.nz
