Check out the Slideshow in the original Link.
http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/59559/Method_Man_and_The_Smokers_Club_light_up_Ace_of_Spades
Ace of Spades went up in smoke Tuesday as "The Smoker’s Club" hip-hop tour made its way to Midtown.
The tour, founded in the summer of 2010 by a group of like-minded artists big and small, unites those who share a love for hip-hop and medicinal cannabis. Ironically, the tour comes hot off the heels of a serious federal crackdown on medical cannabis taking place in California, shutting down dispensaries locally and statewide.
The second leg of the tour kicked off on Oct. 12 and features Method Man, Curren$y, Big Krit and many others.
The stage was adorned with a "Smoker’s Club" banner and a lone DJ booth, as attendees lazily filed into the venue for the opening acts. Chicago-based emcee Paypa kicked off the evening by posing the question "Where the trees at? Isn't this the City of Trees?" only to be met by groans from the crowd, complaining of tight security at the entrance that made sure no contraband was brought in.
Despite this, Paypa delivered a sharp set with catchy hooks, a rendition of Luniz's 1995 hit “I Got 5 on It” and his single “Oh That's My S--t.” Upon seeing the crowd's lackluster response, the rapper brought a lit blunt onstage that was met with spontaneous applause.
"Aw, that's f----d up...the only way to wake y'all up is to bring a smoke onstage?" he said.
The musical interludes between sets were appropriately selected, like Rick James' “Mary Jane” and Dr. Dre's “Xxplosive,” but the crowd seemed restless, probably for the ironic fact that there was zero tolerance for any cannabis consumption during a marijuana-themed tour.
However, Shiest Bubz got the crowd moving with a slightly improvised take on Busta Rhymes' tongue-twisting verse featured in Chris Brown's “Look at Me Now.” Cuzzin Todd, the sole white emcee of the night, tried to follow up with an interesting set, but his nasally Mickey Avalon-meets-B-Real style fell flat with the crowd and unfortunately drew a couple boos.
The night seemed like a roller coaster ride of performances. Some acts managed to pump up the crowd. Others weren't as lucky. New Orleans act Fiend definitely belonged to the former category rather than the latter, as he spit a cappella verses with enunciated ferocity.
Fellow New Orleans artist Curren$y made it to the stage despite a foot injury that left him in a cast adorned with pot leaves. Performing most of his set seated in a chair, he later had Fiend join him onstage to help him to his feet after he saw the crowd's enthusiastic response to his performance and to exchange verses between the two.
"Wait 'til I get them crutches," he responded to the crowd, implying an even better performance once he had recovered.
After numerous opening acts, iron-lunged hip-hop legend Method Man took the stage, and the crowd immediately snapped to attention.
"The energy you give to me, I'm gonna give to you," he told the crowd, to which the crowd responded with loud cheers and their hands twisted in the Wu-Tang Clan's signature hand sign. "I love you, Sacramento. I love your weed, and I love your style.”
The night only seemed to get more energized as Method Man delivered his immaculate flow with help from Wu-Tang Clan's longtime DJ and producer, DJ Mathematics, including a memorable moment where Mathematics began to spin the records with his feet in a special dedication to slain Run-DMC member Jam-Master Jay.
You read right: his feet.
Somehow, a lone joint and lighter were thrown onstage by a member of the crowd, which Method Man promptly lit and took long, slow drags from before breaking into the classic single “How High” from the collaborative album “Blackout!” with fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Redman.
Following another dedication to deceased to Wu-Tang member Ol' Dirty Bastard that sampled Dr. Dre's “The Message,” Method Man recounted an incident with his tour bus on the Canadian border that involved the police, before breaking into “Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit” and “Y.O.U.”
As Method Man closed out his set, the crowd hoisted him by his ankles toward the stage lights while shouting the lyrics to “Da Rockwilder.”
After a night of ups and downs, Method Man redeemed the night and sent the crowd home — but not before a good majority of the crowd filed into Burgers & Brew next door to satisfy some late-night munchies.
Disclosure: The Wu-Tang Clan has been one of my favorite groups in hip-hop for it's mix of eclectic artists. Method Man's 1999 collaboration with Redman led to the album 'Blackout!', a personal favorite, and considered by many to be a hip-hop classic.
http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/59559/Method_Man_and_The_Smokers_Club_light_up_Ace_of_Spades
Ace of Spades went up in smoke Tuesday as "The Smoker’s Club" hip-hop tour made its way to Midtown.
The tour, founded in the summer of 2010 by a group of like-minded artists big and small, unites those who share a love for hip-hop and medicinal cannabis. Ironically, the tour comes hot off the heels of a serious federal crackdown on medical cannabis taking place in California, shutting down dispensaries locally and statewide.
The second leg of the tour kicked off on Oct. 12 and features Method Man, Curren$y, Big Krit and many others.
The stage was adorned with a "Smoker’s Club" banner and a lone DJ booth, as attendees lazily filed into the venue for the opening acts. Chicago-based emcee Paypa kicked off the evening by posing the question "Where the trees at? Isn't this the City of Trees?" only to be met by groans from the crowd, complaining of tight security at the entrance that made sure no contraband was brought in.
Despite this, Paypa delivered a sharp set with catchy hooks, a rendition of Luniz's 1995 hit “I Got 5 on It” and his single “Oh That's My S--t.” Upon seeing the crowd's lackluster response, the rapper brought a lit blunt onstage that was met with spontaneous applause.
"Aw, that's f----d up...the only way to wake y'all up is to bring a smoke onstage?" he said.
The musical interludes between sets were appropriately selected, like Rick James' “Mary Jane” and Dr. Dre's “Xxplosive,” but the crowd seemed restless, probably for the ironic fact that there was zero tolerance for any cannabis consumption during a marijuana-themed tour.
However, Shiest Bubz got the crowd moving with a slightly improvised take on Busta Rhymes' tongue-twisting verse featured in Chris Brown's “Look at Me Now.” Cuzzin Todd, the sole white emcee of the night, tried to follow up with an interesting set, but his nasally Mickey Avalon-meets-B-Real style fell flat with the crowd and unfortunately drew a couple boos.
The night seemed like a roller coaster ride of performances. Some acts managed to pump up the crowd. Others weren't as lucky. New Orleans act Fiend definitely belonged to the former category rather than the latter, as he spit a cappella verses with enunciated ferocity.
Fellow New Orleans artist Curren$y made it to the stage despite a foot injury that left him in a cast adorned with pot leaves. Performing most of his set seated in a chair, he later had Fiend join him onstage to help him to his feet after he saw the crowd's enthusiastic response to his performance and to exchange verses between the two.
"Wait 'til I get them crutches," he responded to the crowd, implying an even better performance once he had recovered.
After numerous opening acts, iron-lunged hip-hop legend Method Man took the stage, and the crowd immediately snapped to attention.
"The energy you give to me, I'm gonna give to you," he told the crowd, to which the crowd responded with loud cheers and their hands twisted in the Wu-Tang Clan's signature hand sign. "I love you, Sacramento. I love your weed, and I love your style.”
The night only seemed to get more energized as Method Man delivered his immaculate flow with help from Wu-Tang Clan's longtime DJ and producer, DJ Mathematics, including a memorable moment where Mathematics began to spin the records with his feet in a special dedication to slain Run-DMC member Jam-Master Jay.
You read right: his feet.
Somehow, a lone joint and lighter were thrown onstage by a member of the crowd, which Method Man promptly lit and took long, slow drags from before breaking into the classic single “How High” from the collaborative album “Blackout!” with fellow Wu-Tang Clan member Redman.
Following another dedication to deceased to Wu-Tang member Ol' Dirty Bastard that sampled Dr. Dre's “The Message,” Method Man recounted an incident with his tour bus on the Canadian border that involved the police, before breaking into “Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta Fuck Wit” and “Y.O.U.”
As Method Man closed out his set, the crowd hoisted him by his ankles toward the stage lights while shouting the lyrics to “Da Rockwilder.”
After a night of ups and downs, Method Man redeemed the night and sent the crowd home — but not before a good majority of the crowd filed into Burgers & Brew next door to satisfy some late-night munchies.
Disclosure: The Wu-Tang Clan has been one of my favorite groups in hip-hop for it's mix of eclectic artists. Method Man's 1999 collaboration with Redman led to the album 'Blackout!', a personal favorite, and considered by many to be a hip-hop classic.
