Driving into the Masquerade in a rush, I quickly look for parking on the outside. Luckily, we (me and my hip hop partner Jocelyn) are there early, ready to see what this tour holds for us. Walking into the venue, we notice that they weren’t giving out the merchandise until AFTER the show. Mind you, we got the secondary package that promised us some merchandise. Hilariously, there is the notion that we would get it out early. No dice. Shila (Big Krit’s blog maintenance woman and merchandise queen) lets us know to come back after the Curren$y set so we can get everything we are supposed to get.

                Super.

               So, we head up front to see what the show has in store for us. What we experienced was something so energetic, lively, and suffocating that the experience will be enamored and remembered by many for years to come.

                Yes, this concert was just that good.

1.)    Shiest Bubz is one on point host: Always giving out some of the goodies supplied by Raw (rolling papers), he always kept the party going. Personally, I was hoping that he would have performed “Endless World” for the full capacity crowd. However, that was never to happen. Well, at least he did a wonderful job hosting and keeping the crowd engaged with his foolery and free gifts for whomever could catch them.

 

2.)    Marcus Manchild is a pretty good emcee…performance wise: Marcus Manchild, representing Houston, Texas came with his own personal performance time. He did his thing over Chris Brown instrumentals, original material, and undeniable energy. People didn’t really know who he was. Well, after that show, people were looking for his material. He handed out his mixtape for the crowd to take home and listen. If I can find my copy, there is a review coming soon.

 

3.)    Corner Boy P is on the rise: the one thing that REALLY surprised me is how much the crowd was into Corner Boy P. As different concert goers were falling out from “exhaustion” (or excessive kush smoke), Corner Boy was on stage spittin’ that Jet Life rider music the only way he can: smooth and street. Concert goers were reciting with him line for line, word for word as he eases to lyrics into our ears with his New Orleans drawl.

 

4.)    Fiend or International Jones, it is all the same: Formerly known as “Mr. Whomp Whomp”, Fiend transformed into International Jones, Jet Life member. His energy was at an all-time high as he slammed through lyrics and sung songs like he was channeling his inner David Ruffin. As soon as he dropped “Roll It Up”, the crowd was in full unison singing along. Even Corner Boy P had the time of his life performing that song. After jumping into the crowd, rocking the show with the crowd, and ending his set with “Baby”, we all was going to remember the former Tank Soldier dressed down in the red Koala t-shirt.

 

5.)    There was plenty of guest starts out to perform: Whether it was P-IC hailing from Atlanta to Chubby Baby rippin’ through “Meet Me in the Tunnel”, there was always time shared on the stage for the non-regular acts. And there were very few complaints.

 

6.)    Smoke Dza is the man: Smoke Dza wasted no time to get through his set and keep the attention of the crowd. “Continential Kush” Breakfast kept everyone dedicated to the show, while the prior “Wonderful World of Kush” got the crowd in gear. Big Sant even comes out to rip with Smoke and leaves saying “Return of 4eva, Hoe!” as he walks away. The only thing I wished was that A$AP Rocky was around to spit his verse/chorus on “4 Loko”. Oh, well. All dreams just can’t be fulfilled.

 

7.)    Method Man’s can probably outperform most rap acts: As soon as Tru Master got on the ones and twos, it was going to be something of a spectacle. Method Man, as legendary and vintage as he is, did not let up. Fully choreographed, full pretentious, and highly disruptive, the Ticallion Stallion made sure he was remembered. Rolling through his hits like “Method Man”, “Bring The Pain”, “Ice Cream”, “All I Need”, and “What The Blood Clot”, he threw water, threw someone’s hat, gave that person his hat off his head, stage dived, and was passed around like the blunts that been passed around by concert goers all night. By the time he ended his show with an ODB dedication (starring ODB’s son), people were tired.

 

8.)    Big K.R.I.T is certified. No really. He is: The crowd stayed engaged into the entire performance. He even caused a ruckus as soon as he jumped into the crowd to perform. He rolled through straight hits off of Return of 4Eva (“ Sookie Now”, “Shake It”, “Time Machine”, “My Sub”, “Rotation”) and even songs off of Krit Wuz Here (“Just Touched Down”, “Hometown Hero”). The highlight of the night: bringing out 2Chainz for “Money on Da Floor” and Ludacris for “Country S**t Remix”. Once he ended his set with the legendary “The Vent”, we all knew that Big K.R.I.T was an artist that the industry had to embrace.

 

2 Chainz

Ludacris

9.)    Curren$y + Jet Life = dope music: People don’t really understand how prolific Curren$y is. After going through his set, you realize that he pulled songs from 6 or 7 different mixtapes/albums/projects. From Pilot Talk 1 and 2, to the Alchemist produced Covert Coup, to even Verdi Terrace (one of his lesser known mixtapes), he always had a plethora of material to show his prowess. His Jet Life people, Young Roddy and Trademark Da Skydiver, were always in tow and always on point. With a special guest verse from Freddie Gibbs, the injured rap star in the Dominique Wilkens jersey kept the crowd besotted with his blunted raps about leisure and lyricism.

 

10.) The stage props always matched the artist: Corner Boy P had street poles out for his performance. Fiend? He had a human-body sized passport with his face on it. Curren$y “brought his living room” with him because he was injured. The props matched each performance. Brilliant!

 

All photos are courtesy of Steve-ography at http://thesmokersclubtour.tumblr.com/

     Thanks to Shila for the merchandise hook up, Al Mena for the dope merchandise I forgot to buy, and everyone for being gracious hosts.

 

‘Nuff said and ‘Nuff respect!

 

 

************************************************************************

 Article written by Mark A. Harris, contributing writer for STACKS Magazine