Random Memo: Review of the Up in Smoke 2000 tour

Up in Smoke 2000 Tour at Arrowhead Pond June 16 & 18

Each of these talented artists could fill up a 3 hour concert with their own music. Instead the magnanimous DR. DRE gathered his crew, which includes WARREN G, EMINEM, ICE CUBE, SNOOP DOGG, XHIBIT, NATE DOGG, DEAVAN, OUTKAST, MAC 10, WC and MC REN for 4 hours of a celebration in gangsta rap, hip hop and dope smokin’. Ooo wee!!!

Each of these young men are in serious relationships despite their misogynistic lyrics, just ask Nate Dogg how he feels about his woman. And it took each of these "rich ass ni***s" to post the million dollar bail that got Nate to the show after he proved his love to his woman by kidnapping her and burning her car.

Each artist stuck around to perform those funky-ass collaboes that audiences have come to love in rap music. Eminem and Dre did "Forget About Dre", Nate Dogg, Snoop and Warren G blessed everyone with "Ain’t no Fun". Hey, even if I was the first act I wouldn’t leave that party, without a doubt the Pond was the place to be this past Friday and Sunday. These cats even included a special tribute to some of the fallen soldiers of hip-hop and funk, EAZY E, BIG PUN,
NOTORIOUS BIG, TUPAC and ROGER. Dre and Snoop capped off this tribute by performing the fan favorites they each did with the late great Tupac, "California Love" and "Gangsta Party", respectively.

Each of these guys brought their own personal style and managed to leave their egos elsewhere, although with this line up, there was enough testosterone to power all the pyrotechnics and fireworks in the entire show. But, it was all focused and channeled into nothing but love.

Each rap concert before this one had just been thugs running around on stage accompanied by two turntables. Not Up in Smoke, thanks to the production talents of Dr. Dre and Magic Johnson’s promotions the staging got progressively better. The last set, performed by Dre and Snoop, included a 25-foot talking skull, a liquor store front and illuminated chronic leaves placed strategically on stage. The fellas even used vehicular props, once driving on stage in a convertible 1964 Chevy. Xhibit entered the party on a low-rider bicycle.

For the first time in hip-hop history so much West Coast love filled an arena guaranteeing that no one will ever doubt the appeal of this genre or the talent of this coast. Guys, next, let’s do an all day "g-thang" and show the doubters and haters how we can fill the Los Angeles Coliseum. Bring on the original gangster tour, NWA!!!