Up In Smoke Tour

To call the Up in Smoke tour the most highly anticipated hip-hop show in recent memory would be trite, but nevertheless justifiable. Likewise, it’s probably already been called the largest show of its kind too many times as well. But it is.

After three hours in the best seats the San Jose Arena has to offer, I felt like I’d already gotten more than my $50 worth. And what’s more, we still had about an hour of the concert and its two biggest names to go.

Aside from the number and class of included acts, Up in Smoke offers plenty of surprises. The most impressive aspect of the show was the professionalism with which it was run. After a stint in line for the obligatory (at least at hip-hop shows) metal detector swipes, I entered the venue about 25 minutes after the posted show time. At any other like show I’ve attended I would’ve still been an hour early. But on this night I missed the opening sets of Snoop’s understudies, The Eastsidaz, Kurupt and Warren G, who is, incidentally, Dr. Dre’s younger brother.

Eminem was up next, and I was immediately impressed with how little the audience seemed to be familiar with his songs that hadn’t been played twice an hour every hour on MTV. His style and writing are unique and interesting, which bodes well for his future, but he currently lacks the star power of others on this lineup.

The most impressive act I saw was Ice Cube. Complete with a stage of simulated ice blocks, falling snow and his name in that familiar font his fans have come to know by heart, Cube’s set was delivered better and with more energy than anyone else on this night. Songs like "Bow Down" (performed with Mack 10) and "Today was a Good Day" played like anthems to the scores of San Jo hip-hop fans singing along.

Next up was a set by Snoop and Dre, which would have equaled, or even surpassed, Cube’s effort if it were not for chronic (no pun intended) technical difficulties (i.e. vicious feedback), that they did handle as well as could be expected.

Hits like "Deep Cover (187)," "Let Me Ride" and "Gangsta Party," which Snoop sang with the help of ‘Pac on tape, also received their share of praise, but still not the loudest of the night. That honor went to Tupac, who received the last ovation from Snoop and Dre, after they shared moments of silence for Eazy-E, Big Pun, Biggie, and Roger Troutman.

As the lights dimmed, I couldn’t image anyone felt shorted — Up in Smoke offers enough star power to warrant three separate shows. But nevertheless, Cube, Ren, Snoop and Dre came out for an encore of a few cuts from the promised new N.W.A. album, which should be worth the going rate as well.

- Robert Green

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