Adelaide was gifted a concert from not only one of the biggest names in hip hop, but one of the hottest tours to grace the country this year.
The sold-out Adelaide Entertainment Centre hosted superstar Ice Cube (25 March) as part of the 30th anniversary of his album 'Lethal Injection', which saw him accompanied by fellow West Coast legends Cypress Hill.The tour was also meant to feature another West Coast rapper The Game, but after the 'How We Do' artist withdrew just days out (due to last-minute commitments) A.B. Original took his place.
Ahead of their arrival, frequent collaborator DJ Total Eclipse (of The X-Ecutioners) teased the steadily building and palpable anticipation in the room by spinning a spritely mix of classic hits, impossible for those in attendance to not sing-along to.
There was no doubt who had taken the stage; with distinctly local lyricism and charm, there was frequent name dropping via catchy call and answer prompts from members Briggs and Trials, who radiated a sense of genuine delight with the enthusiastic participation of the rapidly filling crowd, singing "A.B. Original" straight back at them.
A.B. Original - image © Mike Lockheart
There was further humble pride from Adelaide's own Trials who reminisced about growing up listening to Ice Cube's former band N.W.A. obsessively, now finding himself opening the show for one of its founding members.
After the energetic A.B. Original set, Lord, touring DJ of multi-platinum selling Californian group Cypress Hill, took up position behind his decks, raised prominently high onstage right. As the tunes gradually built in volume he posed the question: "Is this is a rock crowd or is this a hip hop crowd?"
Based on the cheers in response of hip hop, it would appear a foregone conclusion. However, the playback of Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' nonetheless whipped up a frenzy ahead of the rest of Cypress Hill's hazy entry onto the AEC stage.
Cypress Hill - image © Mike Lockheart
The silhouette of a spherical plume of hair accompanied by billowing smoke soon turned to a shadow across the stage as Cypress Hill MC, B-Real eclipsed the lights behind him, walking on with the biggest joint the universe's physics will allow in one hand, microphone in the other.
The immediately recognisable heady voice of B-Real filled the PA while his presence filled the room, kicking off a medley of slick, vaguely humorous, weed-ridden hip hop that could but only bring a smile to everybody's face.
'Roll It Up, Light It Up, Smoke It Up' allowed B-Real to take command of centre stage independently, with co-conspirator Sen Dog joining only later in the medley for 'I Want To Get High' to huge applause.
Playing to their strengths with a set largely populated entirely by the hits, tracks such as 'Latin Lingo' and 'Tequila Sunrise' stood out in large part due to Eric Bobo's tropical percussion, generating calypso vibes to otherwise chronically funky
beats illustrated by stoner-penned lyricism.
Cypress Hill - image © Mike Lockheart
Later on, Bobo's drumsticks would glow like light sabres in conflict as the arena's lights dimmed to darkness for a ripping drum solo.
Few in the game can claim truly legendary status, but tracing back the 50-year lineage of hip hop it's undeniable that Ice Cube's part in ratifying the genre of gangster rap qualifies him of the title.
After a disembodied call to arms as the lights dipped, the snarling presence of Ice Cube stepping onto the stage was an intimidating if otherworldly sight.
The man's gift for verse, aggressive delivery and relentlessly realistic street reportage is enough to strike you with wonder and awe. He stepped on with intent, eyes full of history and fury, and delivered all that and more, but not without a cheeky dose of joy and dark humour.
Ice Cube - image © Mike Lockheart
Opening with the terrorising 'Natural Born Killaz' followed by 'Hello', both original collaborations with Dr Dre, Cube couldn't help but pause to express his love of how the hip hop audiences "do it out here in Australia".
It must have been a remarkable sight from his perspective as a 10,000-strong capacity crowd were enthralled in repeated participatory chants and call outs, singing the vast majority of his lines back to him, all generating an atmosphere akin to an impassioned political rally.
Excitement was built up to climatic levels when Cube's touring MC – at the abrupt end of 'Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It' – prompted Ice Cube to reconsider whether to carry on with the set, feigning having detected a sense of carnage about to ignite if the songs that followed in the set, were to be performed.
Acting out a level of cautious hesitation, Cube threw it to the wind, with N.W.A. classics 'Straight Outta Compton' and 'Gangsta, Gangsta' elating his throngs of supporters warning us we were "all witnesses", presumably to the ensuing "strength of street knowledge".
Ice Cube - image © Mike Lockheart
Following a venomous performance of the first half of 'No Vaseline', Cube took a moment to reflect that in his opinion the song is the de facto best "diss track" in rap.
While this may well be the case, he confirmed any bad blood is very much water under the bridge at this point between associates Regardless, the song and its history, yet illustrates the fact that "one MC took out four mother-f...ers. . . and their manager," and continues to excite legions of hip hop fans around the world to this day.
Gangster credentials aside, the set closed out with a genuinely grateful Ice Cube sharing immense appreciation for the love audiences in this country continue to give him. The feeling is very much mutual.
More photos from the show.
