Photo cred: Uncle Snoops Army
Weather anchors warned listeners of slippery roads and winds up to 45 mph, but Hard Rock Event Center at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was still jam packed for Snoop Dogg’s Puff Puff Pass Tour.
From skimpy dresses with staggering high heels to ugly Christmas Snoop sweaters, the crowd varied in age and ethnicity. But they all had one thing in common: they were ready to have a good time. Actually, some already looked like they did.
Opener Tha Luinz warmed up the crowd with “I Got Five on It” and even featured Afroman on guitar, who also opened. After a brief intermission, the weed man came back onstage styling in a green long sleeve shirt under a purple suit with green palm trees, a thick gold chain, pimp cup, sunglasses and the most important accessory of all – an Afro.
His hype man amped the crowd up: “When I say afro, you say man”. The crowd gladly complied, and his set opened with “Cold Fro-T-5”.
The rapper had an important question for the crowd. “How many people like to smoke weed by themselves and just chill?” The crowd cheered in agreement.
Next was “Back to the Eighties”. Afroman’s deep baritone voice rang out like a kush laced lullaby. The crowd danced, including an elderly woman in a shiny jacket who won bystanders’ hearts.
After the song, Afroman and his crew poured themselves what they dubbed Cold Fro-T-5 and cheered. Following the mellow “Play Me Some Music” and another single with a hard beat, Afroman launched into “Colt 45” and, of course, “Because I got High”. He played effortlessly on a guitar while attendees sang along.
Meanwhile, audience members looked with envy at my popcorn, clearly hit with the munchies. Inquiring about price, my guess is that food sales were at an all time “high” (get it?).
Speaking of smoke, the lights dimmed and Snoop Dogg appeared onstage, looking effortlessly cool in a black tracksuit, sunglasses and plenty of swagger. Surrounded by fog and accompanied by dancers, the rapper opened with “I Wanna Rock”. And rock he did.
Soon following was radio favorite “All I Do is Win”, which audience gladly sang to. A dancing dog mascot appeared onstage and even threw money, just like the gangsta he was.
After throwing it back to “Murder Was the Case”, Snoop Dogg finally spoke. “Give me some mothafucking pimp music”, he said with his signature sneer before he launched into the remix of “P.I.M.P.”
During “You and Your Friends”, the mascot shot T-shirts to the audience with the launcher inappropriately positioned, of course. Still capitalizing on his love for women, Snoop sang “Beautiful”, accompanied by scantily clad dancers. “All the ugly ladies be quiet!” The rapper said. The audience whopped and yelled, laughing in response.
Following “That’s That Shit”, shit got, well, wild. Explicit “I Wanna Love You” was performed, and in appropriate fashion, strippers danced on the four poles onstage, one who had flames coming out of her heels.
Snoop brought a surprise guests Ball Greezy onstage for party anthem “Nice & Slow” and the upbeat “Smile”.
But alas, what’s a Snoop Dogg concert without a repeat appearance by strippers? “Trash Bags” brought the dancers onstage again, twerking on the poles. One particularly talented one held a bottle in her ass.
“They told me not to smoke onstage so I’m not going to,” said Snoop after “Loosen’ Control”. The audience booed. “I know you guys would feel the same. That’s because you don’t give a fuck.” After pointing out he would be in jail until after Christmas but luckily, his lawyers would get him out, the ever so cool rapper asked the audience a thoughtful question.
“Can I do some old school shit for you?” Not surprisingly, the audience yelled for it.
Taking it back, Snoop sang “Next Episode”, “Ain’t Nothin’ But a G Thang”, “Gin and Juice” (complete with strippers, because duh) and even gave nods to rap greats with covers of “Boyz-n-the-Hood” by Easy-E, “Hypnotize” by The Notorious B.I.G., “Ain’t Nothin’ but a Gangsta Party” by Tupac and “Jump Around” by House of Pain.
“I think people seeing me is on their bucket list,” said Snoop. The audience seemed to agree. “So, if you had a choice, would you: A. Hang out with me, B. Have a drink with me, or C. Smoke some mothafucking weed with me?” Given the cloudiness of the room, the answer was obvious.
“Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)” was played before Snoop closed with a slowed down version of “Young, Wild & Free” closed out the night. Cloud-like smoke filled the stage, giving the rapper a god like appearance. The mascot appeared again with liquor bottle and giant fake blunt, thrusting his hips as he danced.
The audience shuffled outside with lopsided grins on their face. Some were there for the old school jams, some there for the new stuff, others just there for weed. One thing was for certain – Snoop Dogg had just as much if not more fun than everyone in there with smiles, dance moves and, let’s not forget, that signature gangsta swag.