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Eminem & Rihanna’s Monster Tour Roars to Life at Rose Bowl: Concert Review

Eminem & Rihanna's Monster tour kicked off at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on Aug. 7. Read our review of the co-headlining stadium tour

By Steve Baltin

Steve Baltin

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Eminem & Rihanna ‘s long-awaited Monster tour, which kicked off Aug. 7 in Los Angeles at a sold-out Rose Bowl, is billed as a co-headlining tour between the two music superstars, and the pair treated the show as if they were equals, starting and ending together. However, sharing the stage with Eminem is like playing one-on-one with LeBron James or acting with Daniel Day-Lewis. Eminem is, as he reminded everyone last weekend at Lollapalooza , one of the half dozen most compelling performers in music today.

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That was evident from the outset of the show, which opens with a short Silence of the Lambs -inspired film that finds Sopranos star Michael Imperioli walking Rihanna down a San Quentin prison hall. As she saunters into a cell, just the back of Eminem’s head and trademark blonde hair appeared on the screen and the Rose Bowl crowd lost their collective minds.

Keeping with the motif in the opening “Numb,” Rihanna started the show on her own, only to have a platform rise on the side of the stage where Eminem, strapped to a stretcher a la Hannibal Lecter, emerged mid-song. Like the Jay-Z and Beyonce On The Run tour (both shows hit the Rose Bowl this week, coincidently) there is a fair amount of interaction between the two headliners.

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Following “Won’t Back Down,” the Rihanna portion of the night, which lasted for almost an hour, began with her highlighting her vocals on an impressive and impassioned “What Now.” The song was one of her highpoints, along with the gorgeous “Stay” and the reggae track “Man Down,” and the dance-heavy “Where Have You Been.”

The one drawback to Rihanna’s set, which admittedly had fans going crazy, was how produced it felt at times, with the numerous backup dancers joining her for choreographed moves on songs like “Cake” and “Rude Boy,” distracting from the performance. It’s hard to digest her pop polish when she’s on the same bill with someone as raw and intense as Eminem. Every time Marshal Mathers emerged on stage, he was a lightning rod for attention, like when he reappeared at the end of her set to join in on a stunning “Love The Way You Lie.”

After the song ended and Rihanna walked offstage, Eminem said simply, “California, let’s go!” And with that, the Monster tour went off. “Square Dance,” “Marshall Matters,” “Stan,” with Rihanna singing the Dido “Thank You” refrain,” an anthemic “The Way I Am,” “Berzerk” — it was one knockout performance after another. And his lightning speed delivery on “Rap God” was simply jaw-dropping.

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Just as Rihanna’s best moments came when she let her stage persona go and showed her warmth, Eminem shone as he introduced “I’m Not Afraid.” “This song I want to dedicate to anyone who ever lost anyone to addiction,” he said, referencing his own battles with the disease by adding, “I could not have gotten through it without you.”

Rihanna then returned for her encores, coming back for both “Diamonds” and “We Found Love,” before Eminem delivered “Lose Yourself.” Fittingly, the almost three-hour show ended with both performing “The Monster.”

Set List (+ both/ * Rihanna solo/ ** Eminem solo)

“Numb” + “No Love (Don’t Hurt Me)” + “Run This Town” + “Live Your Life” * “Crack a Bottle” ** “Won’t Back Down” + “What Now” * “Phresh Out the Runway” * “Cake” * “Talk That Talk” * “Rude Boy” * “What’s My Name?” (remixed with Trey Songz’ “Na Na”) * “Pour It Up” * “Cockiness (Love It)” * “Man Down” * “You Da One” * “Wait Your Turn” * “Jump” * “Umbrella” * “All of the Lights” * “Rockstar 101? * “Where Have You Been” * “Stay” * “Love the Way You Lie” + “3 a.m.” ** “Square Dance” ** “Business” ** “My Dad’s Gone Crazy” ** “Evil Deeds” ** “Rap God” ** “Marshall Matters” ** “Still Don’t Give a F–k” ** “Criminal” ** “The Way I Am” ** “Airplanes” (Paramore cover) + “Stan” + “Like Toy Soldiers” ** “Forever” (Drake cover) ** “Berzerk” ** “Till I Collapse” ** “Cinderella Man” ** “The Real Slim Shady” ** “Without Me” ** “Not Afraid” ** “Diamonds” * “We Found Love” (Acoustic & Regular Versions) * “Lose Yourself” ** “The Monster” +

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Review: 15 thoughts on eminem & rihanna’s ‘monster’ tour.

By Adelle Platon

Adelle Platon

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Clocking in a handful of collaborations is automatic grounds for two artists to embark on a joint tour these days. Jay Z and Justin Timberlake did it. Hov did it again with Beyoncé. Drake and Wayne are going at it as Chris Brown and Trey Songz are cashing in. But when Rihanna and Eminem step into the fold, is there sense besides dollar signs to put two of music’s biggest chart toppers on the same bill? Behold, 15 thoughts on the “Monster” experience.

1. Taking a play out of the Carters’ book , the show at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium (Aug. 16) opened with a mini-film. Rihanna puts her best Olivia Pope face on and pays Eminem, a surprisingly funny lunatic, a visit at the Attica correctional facility. It’s a spin-off off their therapy session depicted in their “ Monster ” music video, and proof that their chemistry on-wax extends to the screen. Makes you wonder if they’re this comfy with each other IRL and text each other after watching an episode of Breaking Bad to dissect their inner demons.

2. Psychological fancies aside, the two are highly capable of making crowds lose their minds. Starting with the Unapologetic cut “Numb”, where Marshall Mathers emerges in a straight jacket, the overall theme for the show was saluting those who are, in Em’s words, “fucked up mentally.” No illegal substance required.

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3. The ratchet never leaves Rihanna , who rocks white Doc Martens and a Motley Crüe shirt for majority of the show. She dutty wines through an hour’s worth of her risque pop hits, including the turn-up tune “Pour It Up” and every female’s birthday anthem “Cake.”

4. Even with a dearth of new material, Rihanna’s kept her multi-pierced ears to the charts, borrowing Trey Songz’ “Na Na” for a remix of “What’s My Name?”, and telling the Tri-State area, “Y’all like this shit!”

5. But when it comes to the battle of the solo sets, Em is the victor. His live renditions of vintage Marshall (“Just Don’t Give A Fuck”) mirrors the HQ album versions. Neck veins popping, he can go from deep cuts to Slim Shady silly real quick.

6. Rihanna filling in for other females on Eminem’s lineup, like Dido on “Stan” and Hayley Williams for “Airplanes” was a nice bonus. The mashup of “Renagade” and “Run The Town”, as well as “Won’t Back Down” and “What Now” made the sets more cohesive, similar to Justin Timberlake on Jay & Pharrell’s “I Just Wanna Love U” or Bey subbing in for Mr. Hudson on “Young Forever.”

7. The bad gal’s nipples also make an appearance. She showcased the pierced tatas that got her booted off Instagram through a sheer mesh bra towards the end of the night.

8. Style-wise, Rih channeled more of her masculine side, taking a cue from Schoolboy Q and performing the latter half of the show in a white bucket hat.

9. Em’s stage wardrobe remains consistent to his 8 Mile counterpart: hoodie, shorts, Nike sneakers (he chose two pairs of Air Maxes for this show), cap and signature mean mug.

10. Speaking of B-Rabbit, the Grammy-winning “Lose Yourself” rings off in the stadium. All the world loves an underdog.

11. A Shady Stan held up a sign that said “Fack!” which caught Em’s eye. “That might actually be the greatest song I ever made,” he says before promising to perform “that shit” live someday. That said shit comes (literally) off the 2005 Curtain Call collection, that gives a vivid recount of Eminem doing the sex and on the verge of erupting.

12. Given Rihanna’s live performances in the past, specifically her highly ambitious 777 tour (where she performed her seventh LP Unapologetic in 7 different countries in 7 days), the Bajan boombox has a tendency to flip the mic to the crowd instead of tackle her high notes head-on.

13. There were no standard requests from the entertainers for cell phone light shows. There were fireworks at the ready. Can’t find that at “On The Run” tour, IJS.

14. Eminem shouts out New Jersey native Redman and rallies the crowd into a call-and-response of “I’m fucked up” and “I’m high as hell.” Unfortunately, no cameo from Mr. Red, despite Twitter’s wishes.

15. Motor City’s golden child’s rap gymnastics are a marvel to see, especially when he spits the Marshall Mathers LP 2 lead single “Rap God” live. Miss him with the grandiose stage set or flashy chains, all Mr. Mathers needs is a mic, his hype man Mr. Porter, and DJ, Alchemist. There was no need to have Rih gyrate on him during their performances together, either. Believe that when he loses himself in the moment, he owns it. —Adelle Platon (@adelleplaton)

SETLIST “Numb” “No Love (Don’t Hurt Me)” “Run This Town” “Live Your Life” “Crack a Bottle” “Won’t Back Down” “What Now” “Phresh Out the Runway” “Cake” “Talk That Talk” “Rude Boy” “What’s My Name” “Pour It Up” “Cockiness (Love It)” “Jump” “Umbrella” “All of the Lights” “Rockstar 101? “Where Have You Been” “Stay” “Love The Way You Lie” “3 a.m.” “Square Dance” “Business” “Kill You” “Evil Deeds” “Rap God” “Marshall Matters” “Still Don’t Give a Fuck” “Criminal” “The Way I Am” “Airplanes” (B.o.B. cover) “Stan” “Like Toy Soldiers” “Forever” (Drake cover) “Berzerk” “Till I Collapse” “Cinderella Man” “My Name Is” “The Real Slim Shady” “Without Me” “Not Afraid” “Diamonds” “We Found Love” “Lose Yourself” “The Monster”

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Eminem and Rihanna Launch Rebellious, Unpredictable Monster Tour

By Matt Diehl

Bey  and Jay , and now  Eminem and Rihanna : The package tours ruling summer 2014 definitely have a superstar Sonny and Cher vibe, pairing hip-hop testosterone with a female vocalist of equal power. That dichotomy was clear from the kickoff of the six-date, three-city “Monster Tour” last night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. At 8:15 p.m., the concert began with a short film paying homage to Silence of the Lambs . Here, Rihanna visits San Quentin Maximum Security Prison, where she’s escorted by a warden (played by The Sopranos’ Michael Imperioli) who leads her to an Eminem bound-up Hannibal Lecter-style. The warden bursts into a massive array of fireworks; Eminem, strapped to a hospital bed, is lowered onto a stage shimmering with elaborate multimedia effects; and after all that, the music finally begins.

The Rihanna-Eminem collaboration “Numb” actually launched the show, starting a six-song joint performance that set the tone for the rest of the evening. Immediately, the contrast between the two headliners was evident in their stage wear. Rihanna wore white Doc Martens and a dramatic drop-crotch ensemble emblazoned with hot rod flames, baring her midriff with a short top; Eminem, meanwhile, made his entrance in inner-city everyman mufti – dark camo bomber jacket, black hoodie, G-Shock, cargo pants and Nike Air Maxes. Backed by a crack 10-piece band (horn section included), the pair’s music blended more fluidly. It was great, for instance, when Rihanna’s interpolation of her Jay Z/Kanye collaboration “Run This Town” flowed seamlessly into Eminem’s verse from another Jay Z track, “Renegade.”

Seven songs in, Eminem exited the stage and Rihanna launched into a 17-track solo set full of crystalline, non-Auto-Tuned vocals. “Phresh Out the Runway” introduced the first of perhaps 1,000 lascivious crotch grabs as well as kinetic choreography involving a line of dancers clad in black S&M gear. Not since Madonna has a mainstream star owned her sexuality the way Rihanna did here, but the singer also remained playful and fun, using phallic missile graphics to accompany her “Rude Boy” pelvic thrusting.

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The near-capacity crowd ate up her every twerk and gyration, accompanying her through vigorous call-and-response sing-alongs on uptempo hits like “Umbrella” as well as ballads like “Stay.” For the latter, Rihanna put the elaborate dance moves and lighting effects on pause, holding the audience with little more than piano and voice for the night’s biggest iPhone-aloft moment. Her solo take on Kanye’s “All of the Lights” proved equally sublime, even more stirring than on record.

Eminem and Rihanna’s initial chart-buster “Love the Way You Lie” transitioned into Eminem’s main solo set. Playing 20 songs culled across his career, the iconic Detroit rapper ran across the stage and contorted his body for emphasis, but this movement never overshadowed his superlative MC skills – undiminished, if not better than ever. Naturally, hits like “The Real Slim Shady” and “Without Me” inspired mass rap-alongs, but the blinding double-time flow on his blowout verse from Drake’s “Forever” and especially “Rap God” reiterated that if hip-hop has a Hendrix, a prodigy who just continues to astonish with talent and innovation, it’s likely him.

Toward the middle of his set, Rihanna returned to duet on Paramore’s “Airplanes” and “Stan,” bringing her own brand of beautiful, wounded melancholy to Dido’s immortal refrain before Eminem launched into more recent material. “Berzerk” proved a standout here, living up to its title with a wild, manic reading driven by its pounding, Rick Rubin-enhanced classic rock big beats.

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The show climaxed with another joint mini-set kicked off by a pair of particularly euphoric Rihanna hits: “Diamonds” and “We Found Love,” which started out as a bongos-and-acoustic beatnik workout before coalescing into its more familiar EDM version, replete with Daft Punk-style pyramid rave imagery projected on the jumbo screens lining the stage. The night’s most anthemic moment, however, was the soaring take on Eminem’s soundtrack smash “Lose Yourself” that followed, setting up a closing performance of the tour’s namesake duet.

“The Monster” appropriately summed up the themes that link these seemingly disparate performers: Both, in their own distinct ways, often use their art to expose their private demons. This tendency made the event still feel a bit more rebellious, unpredictable and raw than the typical big-name stadium concert. That nervy aspect became especially clear towards the end, when Rihanna thanked the audience “for rocking out with your cock out.” Likewise, as Eminem exited the stage for the last time, he rewarded the ecstatic, roaring crowd by double-flipping them the bird – still Slim Shady as he ever was, creating unwholesome family entertainment for all.

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Eminem Eminem x Rihanna: The Monster Tour Intro (HD)

Started by Yuri G , Feb 13, 2016 , in Eminem Add to Reading List

Feb 13, 2016 var slykcount0 = $('.slyktest0').text().length; if (slykcount0  

Feb 13, 2016 "I'm pissing myself". Typical Awkward Marshall var slykcount1 = $('.slyktest1').text().length; if (slykcount1  

Feb 14, 2016 Rihanna is oh man var slykcount2 = $('.slyktest2').text().length; if (slykcount2  

Feb 14, 2016 Immy said Rihanna is oh man Click to expand...

Feb 14, 2016 never seen this.. hilarious var slykcount4 = $('.slyktest4').text().length; if (slykcount4  

sxneighty123 ⚡

Feb 14, 2016 That was awesome var slykcount5 = $('.slyktest5').text().length; if (slykcount5  

Feb 14, 2016 Love this "Do you see a bathroom? I don't" var slykcount6 = $('.slyktest6').text().length; if (slykcount6  

Him Shadow Nightcrawler

Feb 14, 2016 Bot said "I'm pissing myself". Typical Awkward Marshall Click to expand...

K18 El Duderino Welcome to the Dopamine Dome

Feb 14, 2016 At the end Eminem was probably like "Rihanna Come back! I want you to sit on my face" var slykcount8 = $('.slyktest8').text().length; if (slykcount8  

Feb 14, 2016 If Rihanna just said my name like she said Marshalls I'd probably pass out var slykcount9 = $('.slyktest9').text().length; if (slykcount9  

Feb 16, 2016 Awesome video var slykcount10 = $('.slyktest10').text().length; if (slykcount10  

THE SAGA Banned

Feb 16, 2016 El Duderino said At the end Eminem was probably like "Rihanna Come back! I want you to sit on my face" Click to expand...

CSA Architect

Feb 16, 2016 Never seen this before. Kinda good. Wish he makes another movie tho. var slykcount12 = $('.slyktest12').text().length; if (slykcount12  

SHUDEYE Kerser is the sickest.

Feb 16, 2016 Haha i remember seein this a while ago but I don't think it was HD. Pretty funny. I'd walk barefoot on lego for 6 years just to lick a toilet seat rihanna might have sat on at some point in her life var slykcount13 = $('.slyktest13').text().length; if (slykcount13  

Feb 16, 2016 SHUDEYE said Haha i remember seein this a while ago but I don't think it was HD. Pretty funny. I'd walk barefoot on lego for 6 years just to lick a toilet seat rihanna might have sat on at some point in her life Click to expand...

Michael Myers Moderator

Feb 16, 2016 Hey was that Rick Rath from Californication? Anyways, Rihanna >>>>>>> var slykcount15 = $('.slyktest15').text().length; if (slykcount15  

henzINNIT Poster on the internet

Feb 16, 2016 Like the music video, so much effort and production value and "The Monster" is the best song they could muster? var slykcount16 = $('.slyktest16').text().length; if (slykcount16  

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The Monster Ball Tour

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The Monster Ball is the second concert tour by Lady Gaga to promote The Fame Monster , her sophomore album. The tour was officially announced on October 15, 2009, after her joint concert tour with rapper Kanye West, titled " Fame Kills ", was suddenly canceled. Described by Gaga as "the first-ever 'pop electro opera'", The Monster Ball Tour began four days after the release of The Fame Monster .

• 1 Background
• 2 Broadcast and recordings
• 3 Lady Gaga X Terry Richardson
• 4.1 Call Gag
• 5 References

Initially, hip-hop artist Kanye West and Lady Gaga had plans to launch a joint tour together. Fame Kills: Starring Lady Gaga and Kanye West was confirmed in September 2009 , as a concert tour that West and Gaga would co-headline. In the aftermath of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards , West made a public statement that he would take a break from the music industry following the media and public reaction to his outburst during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for winning the Moonman for "Best Female Video". Nevertheless, the complete schedule for the tour was released, with the tour set to begin on November 10, 2009, in Phoenix, Arizona. Shortly afterward, the tour was officially canceled without any explanation. Gaga addressed the situation at Billboard's annual Women in Music luncheon where she cited creative differences as the reason for the tour's cancelation. In an interview she stated, "[Kanye] is going to take a break, but the good news is, I am not."

After ensuring the public that she would be embarking on a solo tour in lieu of the defunct tour, Gaga officially announced The Monster Ball Tour on October 15, 2009 . The tour had originally been planned to debut in London in early 2010 , but was rescheduled, and launched on November 27, 2009, in Montreal, QC. Rapper, Kid Cudi , and singer, Jason Derülo , were confirmed as the supporting act for the tour. While Cudi was confirmed to be supporting Gaga from the beginning of the tour, it was reported that Derülo would join the tour beginning on December 16, 2009. Cudi was kicked off of the tour after the December 14th show due to inappropriate behavior towards a fan. The official poster for the tour features Gaga in her signature Versace 676 sunglasses and what she has dubbed " The Orbit ", which she first wore on the October 3 , 2009 edition of Saturday Night Live . The contraption was designed by Nasir Mazhar in collaboration with Gaga's own creative production company, Haus of Gaga .

Broadcast and recordings

Fans who met Gaga after various shows confirmed that she will be releasing a 3D movie of the tour. This is one of the reasons behind the 3-D glasses included in the Super Deluxe version of The Fame Monster . On March 4, 2010, Gaga Daily announced via Twitter : “ The Monster Ball DVD is going to be released and it will be in 3D! ” On March 8, 2010, a rep from Interscope Records released the following statement to MTV News : “there are talks about a 3D concert and DVD in the near future.” On February 14, 2011, while on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno , Gaga announced that there will be an HBO special of the concert. The program was filmed during Gaga's February 21-22 shows at Madison Square Garden and will be titled "Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden." HBO confirmed that the special will air on May 7, 2011 and will be directed by Laurieann Gibson. [1]

Lady Gaga X Terry Richardson

Gaga teamed up with Terry Richardson after the photoshoot for Vogue magazine. Richardson wanted to photograph Gaga during her offstage presence, document what she did when she wasn't performing.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile was a sponsor of The Monster Ball.

The Virgin Call Gag is a part of The Monster Ball (North American dates only) where Lady Gaga call one of her fans from the audience. Fans have to fill the form available on the Lady Virgin website and the winner will be selected during the show. The prize for those who got called was a seating shift to the mosh pit.

• ↑ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658005/lady-gaga-hbo-special.jhtml
• 1 Inez and Vinoodh
• 2 Photography
• 3 List of Unreleased Songs