Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube Bring It at Osage

What can be said about a rap concert?  I mean it is what it is.  Lots of profanity, lots of crowd chants, and plenty of mixture in the crowd.  Red, yellow, black, white and even what some would say are undefinable will show up and have their fists and fingers pumping in the air.  That will be seen at almost any hip hop show out there.  

Now throw in rap royalty and it amps up to a level somewhat unheard of.  That being said, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube brought their "How The West Was One" tour to Tulsa this past Wednesday night and did not disappoint the few thousand in attendance.

This twin bill is very much in the rap royalty category.  Ice Cube being a founder on NWA and one of pioneers of "gangsta rap" can pretty much do no wrong these days.  Being a hugely successful solo artist as well as a respected actor, and director carries with it keys that open all kinds of doors.  Those doors and the keys belonged to the Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino on this night and Cube wasted no time in making himself right at home. 

Ice Cube stated that he had never been to Tulsa before, but would definitely be back.  Cube could have easily carried the night all by himself.  With a huge arsenal of hits and his charisma he could have put on his own festival. 

He brought his hits out to play, from "Check Yo Self" to "Good Day" he had the crowd whipped into a frenzy.  Cube is a heck of a showman with his partner Dub C he didn't miss a lick and had the crowd wanting plenty more at the end of his hour long set.  It appeared that he didn't want the set to end, at one point stating "They are gonna have to kick me out of here."  If you have never seen Ice Cube you really owe it to yourself to do it while you can.  Having never been to a rap show before, he made me want to go to more of his shows.

Snoop was up next and after a lengthy intermission that had lots of traffic flowing in and out of the event center, he hit the stage with his usual slow walk.  Immediately taking command with his full band and DJ.  Snoop does a very good job of interacting with the crowd, at times it seems like it is a milking to keep the crowd with him.  Nonetheless, he has earned his audience and gives them what they showed up for. 

He shifted from hard hitting cuts like "Gin and Juice" and "Ain't Nothin But G Thang" to his more "romantic" songs like "Sensual Seduction",  he grabs you by the hand and leads you into his world of gangs, drugs, and women.  He along with his Dogg Pound through in some cool covers including "Jump Around" and also gave a great tribute to former label-mate and friend Tupac, doing one of Pac's songs as well as the collaboration "Gangsta Party."

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Photos by: Kevin Pyle

Snoop has managed to make himself a household name and has found his way in mainstream America and yet still remain true to himself and his roots.  Both he and Ice Cube have seen all there is to see in the rap game and continue to represent the West Coast style as a badge of honor.  Oh Yeah,yeah!