Kanye West performing in South Africa on Feb. 3 (Gallo Images).

Kanye West was a bit out of character Sunday night as he closed his set at the Hammersmith Apollo in London.

The outspoken hip-hop artist known for his tantrums and rants spent his last moments on stage uttering a piercing, ear-clutching scream as his final song “Touch The Sky” faded.

After repeating the lyrics “top of the world” multiple times, he first appeared to be elongating a note, similar to a singer’s vocal run. When he ran out of breath, he made subsequent attempts, each growing more erratic, angrier and disturbing.

(Facebook)An optimistic, get-over-it and pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps anthem probably isn’t what rap fans want to hear during tough economic times, but it’s what veteran Boston MC Edo.G offers on “Change” from his 10^th studio album, Intelligence & Ignorance, released earlier this month.

While many of the “Be A Father To Your Child”’s contemporaries complain about the system, Edo.G instead encourages his listeners to think differently.

On the song featuring a comforting chorus from soul singer Noel Gourdin, Ed rhymes, “Don’t do a stupid move. Stop worrying about who is who doing you, screwing you, subduing you.”

Mariah’s 2009’s Eminem dis “Obsessed” was her last top 10 hit. But her new song “Almost Home” from the soundtrack of Oz The Great And Powerful will place her back on the top of the charts.

Mariah understands how to keep her sound fresh and relevant better than possibly any other pop star with 20-plus years of hits. Though “Almost Home” boasts Mariah’s honey-laced multi-octave range, the song’s true pop friendliness lies on the production from Stargate.

Up and coming R&B singers who merely pace the stage during their sets could learn a lot from veteran The Gap Band-singer-turned-solo artist Charlie Wilson. Wilson, who turned 60-years-old last month, maintained an high energy show Saturday at the packed Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, blazing through 30 years of hits.

Two bugle boys introduced the “Burn Rubber On Me” singer, announcing his intent to “hand you your a** on a platter.”

Wilson did just that. He emerged during the revving “Party Train,” falling in line with the background dancers, keeping in step in his flamboyant black suit, pink shirt and tennis.