Detroit hip-hop conglomerate D12, who entertained the crowd as the opening act, opened the concert evening. They don’t quite offer the hype vibe one might have hoped for. But: Kuniva and Swifty clearly have a deep connection and thick, dark rap skills, and their version of “Nasty Mind” works well – everyone rocks along. Still, Eminem’s voice and Proof’s presence are sorely missed. Of course, the nostalgic moments win here: when Swifty and Kuniva pay tribute to the late Big Proof, who was shot dead in an altercation in 2006, everyone in the audience screams. What remains difficult during the almost hour-long performance is that the two usually only rap their own verses to DJ Versatile’s beats on songs that were originally presented by six people.
Eventually, the crowd’s inertia suggests that more than half the audience has probably gotten high in preparation – and that D12 can’t cheer them up. But you were wrong!
“Do you wanna get fucked up with Snoop Doooogg?”
After a break of about 30 minutes between D12 and the star of the night, the stage walls and the audience suddenly come to life. Opening Snoop Dogg’s night out in Berlin is a behind-the-scenes video on a screen that shows the rapper backstage toking his joint in a hotel room, choosing an outfit, and then moving on to Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana ‘ walking down a hallway.
The second the 1.90 meter tall man enters the stage, the slightly sleepy dynamic in the room turns into an euphoric stadium atmosphere. Nothing there with sluggish potheads, everyone ready to go! “Next Episode” and “Nuthin’ But AG Thang” thunder straight out of the speakers before you can even comprehend that you can finally see your favorite warhorse live. So an arch of expectation that had been tense up to this moment is released, and an arrow of pleasure shoots through the hall, across the standing room to the well-filled rows of seats.
Shoutout to Biggie and 2Pac
It becomes clear in the first half hour: This is a very specific caliber of show that we German (and Austrian) potatoes can only understand and feel to a limited extent. Here’s a true West Coast rapper who’s been through them all: Biggie, 2Pac, Dre. This is particularly noticeable when he flashes images of The Notorious BIG with “Hypnotize” and looks up at the end of the song: “Rest in peace, my man.” Then he coos into the mic: “Okay, if you love this , then you will definitely love that too…” – and delivers 2Pacs “California Love”.
Snoop gives us an unrepentant rendition of his career and old-school hip-hop. All clichés are served: turntables, 90s visuals and a reliable rap crew. In addition, the Dawg juggles everything essential with his hands: a gold-plated microphone, the obligatory joint and a red Supreme money pistol, with which he lets money rain down on the audience and the dancing buttocks of his pole dancers.
“Shout out to all the real mutha fuckin’ fans who’ve been down for Snoop Dogg since 1992”
This man is 51 and looks even older from some perspectives: the roots of his dreadlocks are slightly gray and thinning. But at the same time, this Snoop Dogg is evergreen – like the one that was stuck to the wall in the form of a poster in the 90s. Plus an effortless cocktail of songs everyone in attendance probably wanted to hear live: “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Gin And Juice,” “California Girls,” from the Katy Perry collaboration, and “Wet.” There are also shout-outs for the mothers with children in the audience, people who bought the tickets three years ago and the old fans from 1992, while “What’s My Name” blares out of the loudspeakers.
But: Better leave feminism at home today!
You just can’t be totally feminist on this evening. Snoop simply remains true to himself to this day. On “Sexual Eruption,” he gets his crotch rubbed by his scantily clad pole dancers, who are probably less than half his age. Somehow he’s already Snoop-Grandpa, who generously ignores the fact that the presented scenario of half-naked women, whom he throws money at and admires while smoking weed, hasn’t aged quite as well. So it’s best to only bring out the hardcore feminism after the concert and instead enjoy that the Dawg basically does all this in a homage to beautiful “ladies”. A scoundrel prank that, oddly enough, the irresistible Doggfather is easily forgiven for.
Snoop Dogg’s clear political views are more related to hedonistic life. The focus is on his space-consuming personality, his minimalist dance and the use of old forms of rap, as well as his soft-rough voice and good sound from good speakers. And of course sweetish-green clouds of smoke, which certainly only float with impunity in the Max-Schmeling-Halle at a Snoop Dogg concert.
After the concert, even the Späti owner around the corner feels it all: Snoop Dogg beats can be heard from his small stand-alone radio, and the owner asks: “Well, was it full?” – Yes. Almost 12,000 people have just entered a parallel world with the Dawg, which is rarely found in everyday life in Germany.
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