Ice Cube - Never Too Gangsta

Ice Cube - O'Shea Jackson

One of the founding fathers of gangsta rap, Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson) brought his brutally honest style back to The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC with WC (William Loshawn Calhoun, Jr.) and crew.  Ice Cube has been on the scene for over 25 years, since blowing music fans out of the water in 1987 with the infamous rap group N.W.A. alongside fellow rap legend, Dr. Dre.  When he left N.W.A and become a solo artist in 1989, Ice Cube secured his status as one of the most controversial lyricists of all time.  He has been accused of being overly violent, racist, and misogynistic.  On the other hand, he has been labeled as being one of the greatest story-telling MC’s of all time.  He has collaborated with an uncountable list of other talent along the way.  Ice Cube has also recognized success with his clothing line, as well as acting, and screenwriting.  He starred in the early nineties classic, Boys In Da Hood.  O'Shea Jackson also co-wrote and starred in the classic Friday movie series, as well as had starring roles in other blockbuster hits such as Anaconda, Three Kings, and Barbershop. 

GZA & Wu-Tang Clan at Bonnaroo

GZA

To close out “This Tent” on Saturday, June 9^th at the Bonnaroo Music Festival was an iconic performance from none other than GZA (Gary Grice) performing the album Liquid Swords with Groupo Fantasma playing his background beats live. GZA, who gained notoriety as a founding member the legendary Staten Island based hip hop ensemble Wu-Tang Clan, brought back the hype that has been surrounding the LP since its release in 1995. 

Ludacris at Bonnaroo

Ludacris

Christopher Bridges, known to the world as Ludacris, played to a rousing a near 25,000 person crowd at last summer’s Bonnaroo Festival on June 8, 2012 at This Tent.  Born in Illinois and raised in Atlanta, the hip-hop artist is part of the Dirty South music genre.  The rapper has won three Grammy awards, appeared in numerous films, and owns several companies including his own Cognac liquor brand.

Dead Prez Photos & Review

Dead Prez Photos & Reveiw
Enlightening The Masses With Revolutionary Music
Written by Fox Johnson
Concert Photos by David Oppenheimer

Dead Prez is the longtime hip hop duo who's intrinsically anti-establishment outcry has been at the forefront of the worldwide music movement, promoting human equality and justice. The group consists of M-1 and stic.man who together have collaborated with many top musicians since forming Dead Prez including: Talib Kwali, Midnite, Dj Drama, Chuck D, Outlawz, Dj Green Lantern, and Big Pun. Currently they are touring with dj/emcee mikeflo as their third man. The duo's music has been featured on :the movie Slam, as the introduction song on every episode of the Chappelle’s Show, on the soundtrack for the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious, on a Dead Prez documentary called It's Bigger Than Hip Hop, as well on two video games NBA Live 2007 and SKATE.

 M-1 - Mutulu Olugbala with Dead Prez

Although their influence has covered much of the entertainment industry pandora they have remained vigilant to the spread of social justice, while continually voicing opposition to corporate control. Dead Prez draws much inspiration from social activists: Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, and Huey P. Newton. As exclaimed in their song Malcolm Garvey Huey, saying “study Malcolm Garvey Huey“. Stic.man and M-1 also reject the ridiculous musicians lifestyle portrayed in mass media. Instead Dead Prez promote knowledge, healthy living, community, veganism, and eliminating racism. None of which, most of the media industry has any true interest in.

 stic.man with Dead Prez - Clayton Gavin

 Despite all of this Dead Prez's music has become wildly popular allowing their inclusion on some mainstream media as mentioned earlier, but on their own terms. The duo play a modest amount of tour dates each year around the world ranging from Asheville NC and Austin TX in the US, to Oslo Norway. The duo have even set up impromptu concerts for people who cannot afford to pay and see their already scheduled show, as they did in South Africa. Regardless of location Dead Prez always find themselves drawing exuberant crowds ready to be engaged with a conscious revolutionary message.

 Dead Prez

 Dead Prez

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 Dead Prez

 Dead Prez

 Dead Prez

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 Dead Prez

 Dead Prez

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 M-1 with Dead Prez - Mutulu Olugbala

 stic.man with Dead Prez - Clayton Gavin

 stic.man with Dead Prez - Clayton Gavin

 stic.man with Dead Prez - Clayton Gavin

 stic.man with Dead Prez - Clayton Gavin

 The Grey Eagle - Asheville

 mikeflo with Dead Prez

 mikeflo with Dead Prez

 mikeflo with Dead Prez

 mikeflo with Dead Prez

 mikeflo with Dead Prez

 mikeflo with Dead Prez

 mikeflo with Dead Prez

Ice Cube at The Orange Peel

Rap superstar Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson) made is way to Asheville, North Carolina to perform a sold out show on March 6. Borrowing from a wide repertoire of songs, Ice Cube performed hits from N.W.A. and his other projects including Straight Outta Compton, Gangsta Gangsta, It Was A Good Day and Check Yo Self!

.  

 Ice Cube

Joined by WC (William L. Calhoun Jr.) and DJ Crazy Toones (Lamar Dupré Calhoun), there was never a dull moment as crowd was pumped and sand along to Ice Cubes songs. Ice Cube told the crowd that North Carolina is held special to him because his mother is from NC and his grandfather lives in High Point, NC—a city 150 miles east of Asheville. Ice Cube was featuring his latest album, "I Am the West" which came out in 2010 and the stage sported a larger than life black & white backdrop of cover shot of him sitting in a rocking chair sporting a 12 gauge shotgun.

 Ice Cube

 Click photos for large view.

Ice Cube, a father of 4, brought out two of his sons toward the end of the show to rap with their dad, a gangsta rap founder and mogul.

Ice Cube is most certainly the most accomplished performer to come to The Orange Peel (Asheville's largest nightclub). Besides being a rap icon, Ice Cube is a highly successful actor, film director, screenwriter and producer.

More Ice Cube photos from his performance in Asheville up at Performance Impressions.

  Ice Cube

 Ice Cube and WC

 Ice Cube

 Ice Cube I Am the West

 WC - William L. Calhoun Jr.

 Ice Cube

 Ice Cube

 Ice Cube

Ice Cube Tour Dates & Tickets

Ice Cube will be on tour through April and tickets are not unexpectedly sold out for most shows on the tour:

Mar 11     Buffalo     Town Ballroom    
Mar 12     Milwaukee     The Rave / Eagles Ballroom    
Mar 13     Chicago     The Mid    
Mar 15     Minneapolis     First Avenue    
Mar 17     Saskatoon, Canada     Tequila Night Club    
Mar 18     Lethbridge, Canada     Bully's Event Center    
Mar 19     Calgary, Canada     Flames Central    
Mar 22     Vancouver, Canada     Commodore Ballroom    
Mar 27     Bend, OR     Midtown    
Mar 29     Chico, CA     Senator Theater    
Mar 29     Sacramento Chico, Bolivia     Senator Theatre    
Mar 30     Los Angeles     House of Blues - Sunset Strip    
Apr 1     Los Angeles     City National Grove of Anaheim    
Apr 2     Las Vegas     House of Blues    
Apr 3     Bakersfield, CA     Majestic Fox Theater

Snoop Dogg & Warren G Photos & Tickets

 Snoop Dogg tickets

Snoop Dogg and Warren G made it to Bonnaroo in 2009.



Snoop Dogg has several show scheduled including in Seattle WA on March 5 and March 6

 Warren G Tickets & Photos

 Snoop Dogg Tickets & Photos

 Snoop Dogg Tickets & Photos

 Snoop Dogg & Warren G Tickets & Photos

Snoop Dogg Tickets at Ticket Master

Public Enemy Chuck D & Flavor Flav Photos - In Da House - Bonnaroo

 Public Enemy Photos Bonnaroo

Public Enemy with Chuck D and Flavor Flav blew out the Bonnaroo Music Festival last summer.  June 12, 2009 should be noted in the history books as one of the most music filled days in the U.S.  After what had already been a 12 1/2 hour day full of stage hopping music, Public Enemy took control of This Tent after midnight.  There was no holding back.  The band and the crowd merged in a let loose get down that was powerful, rockin, energetic and together.  The crowd spread out into the fields surrounding the huge open-air covered tent that more resembled an airplane hanger without walls. 

 Flavor Flav Public Enemy Photos

Chuck D (Carlton Douglas Ridenhour) and Flavor Flav (William Jonathan Drayton Jr.) brought their full troupe including the Bomb Squad. Flavor Flav could not hold back from having fun and performing and performing.  Flavor Flav jumped up on the speakers, jump down into the pit to meet the crowd while singing and Flav also took time to get behind the drum set for a solo!


More Public Enemy - Chuck D & Flavor Flav photos from Bonnaroo at Performance Impressions

 Chuck D - Public Enemy

Public Enemy our national heroes for standing for and speaking for peoples' rights, against racism and government persecution.   Before starting the song Don't Believe the Hype, Chuck D spoke to the crowd "The reason I say fuck the prison-industrial complex, is because there is a Super-Max out there in Colorado and this country always talks about 'Oh we about human rights and that we ain't into waterboarding and torture and all that bullshit,' ...When it comes down to some of the things that we lead the world in" referring to the irony, Chuck D said "peace and love" is what's we need to give then let the crowd know "Bonnaroo, know matter what they say, Public Enemy - we always got your back!."

 Flavor Flav - Public Enemy

 Chuck D William - Jonathan Drayton

 Flavor Flav

 Chuck D - Public Enemy

 Brian Hardgroove - Public Enemy

 Chuck D & Flavor Flav - Public Enemy

 Flavor Flav - William Drayton

 Flavor Flav - William Drayton - Public Enemy

 Bomb Squad - Public Enemy

Public Enemy Tickets - Chuck D Tickets - Flavor Flav Tickets

 Flavor Flav - Public Enemy