Written By: Jaro
Photos: Dalley
This story is realer than ‘Real Deal Holyfield’. Check it out.
On a typical half-cloudy, half-sunny Vancouver summer day, citizens of Vancity roamed downtown as Granville street buzzed like a freshly smoked hornets nest. I guess it’s pretty typical for Granville to be buzzing, but this was no ordinary buzz. I mean, nothing buzzes like anticipation, right? I think you know what I’m talking about. The occasional scream and constant low rumbling of a crowd of people anxiously awaiting… something: anything. But on this day, a line up that stretched around the block confirmed the king of the west coast was visiting his northern territory.
As I arrived at The Commodore, a random tattooed skater, wielding a green mohawk so pointy it tattooed my eye just looking at it asked, “Yo bro who is playing tonight?” “SNOOP DOGG! Come on man I’m disappointed in you!” I jokingly replied. With whiskey and smoke on his breath he laughed and slurred on about how bad he wished he could go. I quickly escaped his alcohol rich, no oxygen zone, got my ticket and walked up the stairs. It was packed already with drinkers at the bar, fashionistas buying Snoop Dogg apparel and of course avid Snoop Dogg fans jockeying for positions in front of the stage. I immediately set out to find a decent spot for the show. At a concert of this magnitude, it’s all about positioning! As I landed and set up camp, I couldn’t help but notice that to my right was an average looking white couple approximately in their 50’s dancing together and rapping along to the tracks while DJ Physik bombarded the venue with Hip Hop classic after classic. I’m not sure of the exact look on my face, but shock and awe are probably appropriate adjectives. HA! I wasn’t judging, I just didn’t expect that, you know?
Consequently, it made me look around to see who else was in my vicinity. The results were as follows. To my immediate front was a lesbian couple, both about 5’2″ tall and maybe in their mid 30’s, adding to the atmosphere of what I’m sure is the atmosphere of every Snoop concert ever in life. To my left were probably three of the sexiest women in the whole place screaming their pretty faces off, coaxing Mr. S-N Double O-P to come out. One was half Asian, another had some sort of Latin Influence about her genes, and the last but not least was Native. Very nice. They too, were adding to the atmosphere. Finally, directly behind me was an Indian man in his early 20’s. He had a look about him that suggested he had only dreamt about this day previously.
There I stood in the middle of a cultural and generational melting pot. For a moment I took time to introduce myself to everyone. That got me thinking about how Hip-Hop, Snoop Dogg and life in general had come a long way since the 80’s. There I was having a good time with people who I potentially had nothing else in common with. My concert pals along with danger skater outside made for a vey diverse crowd of people I connected with that night. We all love Hip Hop. We all loved the atmosphere and we all love Snoop Dogg : The Legend. These things had brought us all together. It felt good to be in the presence of unity, genius and greatness simultaneously. I considered myself blessed.
Anyway, finally the lights dropped and DJ Jam came out to introduce the converted Rasta. The melting pot got hotter and louder! 60% of people held up their iPhones and Blackberry’s like some sort of 21 smart phone salute or honor guard trying to capture the moment digitally. The rest of us screamed or added a fresh layer of atmosphere. Just as the seams were about to burst, out popped The Dogg pumping the heavy ‘I Wanna Rock’. Pandemonium ensues. Snoop and the remaining members of the DPG (RIP Nate Dogg) killed the show. As Dead Prez says, “It’s bigger than Hip Hop.”
To see more pictures from the show visit us on facebook at www.facebook.com/HIPHOPVANCOUVER