(above: what no brown m&ms? smokers club rider insists uponplenty of beef jerky)
The Smokers Club Tour came through Wilmington, NC, a very out of place, but much needed show for the area; we never get any good rap, ( unless you count Mac Boi and 1st Infantry at 4TheLove Fest). Best thing about a Smokers Club tour, lots of smoke. Worst thing about a Smokers Club rap tour, non-existent females. Apparently babes don’t dig rap as much we us fellas do, whatever at least we don’t have to give birth. This Tour of smoke was headlined by Curren$y
Action Inc. opened up, they featured the local DJ Battle and Fuzz Jax spiting his best. Did a pretty sick “freestyle”(not sure how free it actually was), going through the entire alphabet rapping multiple verses using only words starting with that letter. Getting the crowd involved as we shouted each letter through until Z. It was evident people were getting anxious for Curren$y to come one, when two kids asked me, (Why me? I guess I look important or something) if they could sell back their tickets, complaining that the doors opened at 8:30. Idiot kids, its only 9:30, no one amazing is coming on until 11 or latter. I remember my first show too.. it was Rafi.
Fuzz did another freestyle, this one more legit, as he incorporated much of the audience into each rhyme. Pointing at someone in the front row, calling out “girls jeans, yea those tight. Yooo bartender thanks for the coke and rum, thats right. You guys like my hat, it’s brand new. Dam dude you lucky cause that grils waay too hot for you.” hah He got some laughs, along with some ooohhhs and ahhhhs.
Dow Jones and his posse hit the stage next. They had three rappers plus a DJ, started out with a song titles “I’m ill”, not a bad song, i decided to postpone my bathroom break. Dow Jones is quite the skilled lyricist and a virtuoso when it comes to his delivery, very well done. He starts spitting to a rap about “Straight, no chasers”, as he grabs a full shot of vodka from a ran stage-side and downs that bitch like a boss.. i actually thought he was going to throw up right there on stage. Maybe chasers aren’t the worst invention ever.
Bad shot taking skills aside, they did a very solid job, I was impressed with Dow Jones, i really liked his style.
It was getting late, almost midnight, and no Curren$y in sight, i might have to leave early. But wait, The Smokers Club finally came on stage. “All right!!, i thought, but wait still no Curren$y in sight, just the rest of them. I decide to investigate, and head to the greenroom, where the artists ‘relax’ before they go on; and look who it is, posted on the couch, sunglasses on, getting his drink,smoke, and who knows what else on was the man himself. Fine, I’ll wait a little longer.
One of the rappers did a great flow over Kanye’s “Power”, singing, “No man should smoke all that sour,” ( refereeing to Soul Diesel, a strand of Marijuana) to the tune of the song. He was persistent in smoking onstage and passing his left overs into the crowd. Rappers from past, current, and future sets fluttered the stage, which was confusing, and made it hard to know who was who. So I don’t.
Its about 1am, and I’m tired, so I decide to call it a night and walk down the three flights of stairs, until I pass Mr. Curren$y on my way down the stairwell. “Whats up man? You ready to kill it?” I ask him. I’ve never witnessed a more confident, yet silly grin.
He got un stage to a loud, warm welcome from everyone present. It pretty obvious to me that he was the best by far. Unfortunately his 1am appearance had the audience a little burnt out, everyone seemed a but tired and lackadaisical. I guess everyone was enjoying this Smokers Tour too much, except me. I was getting tired from a long day, and need some rest.
Overall a successful night and day 1 of the concert packed Rocktober, in which Xandali Productions has brought a show a night until this weekend. Brooklyn and RockNYC faves Shinobi Ninja will be in town tomorrow at Kefi’s w/ The Movement. Holla