Man, this show was wild. The wait was not too long between sets and the rappers came on and performed spectacularly. What else can you expect from the founders of rap? Method and Red had a ton of energy and their style is definitely still with them after all these years. Ghostface's crowd in the background really made the setting and the mood wilder and more intimate with the crowd, while Method and Red definitely needed the stage clear to interact more with the audience, which brings me to the reason why I did not give this show a full 5 stars. The crowd at the show did not satisfy me or the performers who were pouring their "heart" and soul into their rhymes. Most of the crowd in the middle (elevated standing room) was doing just that: standing, while Method and Red kept demanding more energy and dancing from the crowd of their hometown. I, myself, was going wild and tried as much as possible to encourage others around me to give them as much of a party as possible so that the rapper-gods could respond with even more fury and power. Still, there were redeeming moments when Method and Red dedicated the show to ODB (Old Dirty Bastard); the crowd came to life to remember his name and legacy.
Other than the crowd, these legends did not cease to amaze me for a second with their energy and flow, running around the stage, dancing, slapping highfives, and interacting with each other and the two insane DJ's on the stage supporting them with the usual, unforgettable beats. The setlist was great, offering a combination of new school songs from their new album together, and old school of the early 90's when Method and Red amazed the world with so many albums.
They came home to New York to play a hallmark show, choosing a prime location, Nokia Theatre, with its great acoustics, powerful subwoofers, great stage size, and optional open seating in the back. It is truly my favorite venue, especially because their housed one of my favorite shows (truly an honor) in my life.