The Non-Snoop Joburg concert didn’t disappoint

Posted on May 5, 2006

SNOOP report back from Cape Town

We never got to see SNOOP after all that. Sad but true. However our brilliant faithful sista’s Janine in Durbs and Yumna in cape Town gave us their take on the concerts as they saw them… enjoy!!!! It will have to be Kanye West!

Besides the People’s Day Concert being a free rub-up for any Dick, Tom, or Harry. It was official…
ly the most amazing concert I’ve experienced in a long time. With about 200 000 people moving to the sounds of Black Noise, kicking it off and spinning around. There was Zola with one of his backup singers climbing on the rig and shaking his ass while hanging on for dear life. And of course, Freshly Ground getting the crowd to croon to “What would you do if I held your hand and laid you down&” yes we are soppy romantics! And Mario with his ultra smooth, creamy voice and his dancer – kicking of her shoes and coat to give men and I’m sure a few women a couple of moments of pure perving pleasure over her bodacious ass.

But who do you think rocked the concert?

Why there could only be one man for that job – Pharrell Williams. Making his entrance on stage, with a bandana covering his face and “I’m a dirty dog&” echoing through the stadium. Disturbingly, I was not one of the five fortunate women that he chose to go up on stage. But as he said “I was just frontin’ you know I want you girl&” And well, I got to scream all the lyrics to his songs, scaring a few bystanders in the process. Moreover, Pharrell taking off his top was enough to satisfy me – and the rest of the female population at the Green Point Stadium. And yes, Pharrell, for you, I’ll agree that Star Trek does rock.

Many might have complained about the half hour breaks between the acts but with all those booties shaking, I think the rest did me well. Sean Paul came out with his broken knee, apparently inflicted by some beautiful 800-pound ass on his lap. And his silky reggae and dance hall beats matched with his retelling of his sexual encounters with two (I’m thinking South African) women.

Then there was one& Snoop Doogy Doooooog brought the house down with what looked liked an oversized baby jumper, which only he could get away with, and a huge blingy flower ring. Bringing us to our knees as he hopped his way in with “Share with me, ups and downs and round bouts, there will be fairy tales of make believe&” But, what I realized about the man that was arrested, took minutes of silence for some chronic, got us remembering the legendary 2 Pac, openly showed his love for Pharrell and got us to experience some Zulu moves, is that he is a selfless performer. Allowing guests, like his uncle, which got Pharell and the posse laughing on the side of the stage, to express their talent.

If ever there was a hip-hop extravaganza to hit the motherland, this was it. Premier Foods and Big Concerts need to know that the people want more, because this concert needs to be experienced repeatedly! And maybe next time with not such a separation between the South African acts and the International ones, because we love all God’s creations, equally.

***************************************

As disappointed as we were that Snoop Dogg would not be performing at Thursday night’s much awaited and hyped-up People’s Celebration Concert , the concert did not disappoint.

First of all, congratulations to Big Concerts for a superbly well-organised event. We have decided that all future concerts should be held in the daytime into evening at the Johannesburg Stadium. It is a fantastic venue. Some people get a little nervous driving through the surrounding areas, but when there are about 10 000 people doing the same thing you tend to be a little more confident.

The stadium is so spacious, the sound was close to great (no shnoeping on the sound like a certain other promoter that recently organised the Lauryn Hill concert.). Although it was shaky during Pharell. We’ll get back to that. Food and drinks were readily available… The best part is that informal traders are allowed to sell their wares throughout the stadium… so it’s not just big business benefitting from your purchases – you know when you by a box of smokes from a passing smiling vendor carrying a home-made carry-tray filled with all kinds of conveniences you are helping his small business.

The crowd was incredibly diverse but well representative, with the new South African Generation in full force. We had to smile when we saw loads of young funky whiteys bopping away eagerly to the Tswana flow of both Morafe and HHP – seemingly knowing the words. As we’ve said before – you can’t put us in a box. HHP was mind-blowing – as always. We rate this guy. Just a pity he didn’t have his backing band with him – apparently not through choice – singing to a backing-track has nothing on a PHAT ten piece jazz band. You go Jabba!

SNOOP really did himself a dis-service by getting himself arrested as the audience was one of the most energetic, responsive and fabulous in a long time – well that’s what we think. ZOLA received a strong response as always, with the growing crowd going crazy. Freshly Ground funny enough did not receive much response from the audience which had all the journo’s in the VIP section talking…was is it the profile of the audience? Is Freshly G too ‘adult contemporary’ for them? Was the sponsor radio 5FM mismatched with the audience?
I thought DOO BE DOO was the most popular song in SA? Certainly didn’t get the screams we were expecting…

Loyiso was great as always – compared to his American counterpart Mario a little later on, we thought he did a good job. Mario nearly caused the entire VIP section to fall asleep as his cheese and corn brand of “Lovers Hour” RnB delighted the young couples in the crowd. He did a cliched ‘lap dance’ with a semi-naked dancer on stage and then ‘selected someone from the audience’ to do the same dirty with him – at this stage my hands were covering my eyes as I couldn’t bear to watch this x-rated music video. It really was over-the-top soppy – Get over your love jones man.

Then the man of the moment. Pharell. We know he’s one of the hottest contemporary music producers and if it wasn’t for him a lot of bigshots would be running out of material. But we believe he is under-rated as a musician and we will definitely be going out to buy his album ASAP. Pharell ROCKED and we mean literally ROCKED the crowd with his brand of NU-METAL that had the largely black crowd head-banging away (with a few disappointed fans wanting the commercial stuff of course.) But he didn’d let us down in that department either as he moved out of the rock and into the roll… playing all his hits and more. Pity we couldn’t hear him. Seemed to be a combination of a bad throat and bad sound. TURN HIM UP!!!!! We shouted. Anyway… there’s always got to be one hitch.

We left before Sean Paul but the reports have all said his set was a little too long but he was awesome!

SO according to the constant reports at the concert (NOTE to other promoters – let people know what is going on all the time.) SNOOP will be performing for all his JOhannesburg fans next week the 3 May at Johannesburg stadium. You can take your ticket stub and get in for free. We await updates on SNOOP’s performance from Durban and CT, (You lucky so-n-so’s) but in the meantime, we’ll keep showing everyone the video we caught of the SNOOP look-alike who caused a serious FRACAS in the audience as he descended through the Stands down to the VIP area (clever thinking mate) looking exactly like the superstar. Women screamed and pulled their hair as men josstled and fought to get close to him. Others screamed out “Its not him!”. Clever thinking Bongani.

**************************************************************************
Sorry Johannesburg, it’s the worst news ever on Freedom day if you’re a fan and it you have been counting down the days like we did. SNOOP HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN THE UK at London Heathrow airport. His party tried to get into the First Class Lounge and when they were refused entry they went into a Duty Free shop and flipped out, reportedly throwing bottles around. Only six of the 30 were arrested and one of the six was SNOOP. He’s sitting in JAIL in London and has a court case today. He’s lucky it’s not a public holiday in the UK. He may make it for CT and Durban but Joburg, siyaxolisa!

We do have one point we would like to make – WHEN ARE PROMOTERS GOING TO LEARN TO BRING ARTISTS IN A FEW DAYS EARLIER????? Surely that can be written into the contract? Bet you he’s got a big baabelaas. Good. Poor Premier foods wanting to celebrate freedom with a headline act that’s brought shame to the notion. But let’s hear the full story from Snoop’s side although that kind of behaviour at any point is unacceptable. Click here for the full story from the Independent in the UK or read below.

Rapper Snoop Dogg arrested after Heathrow fracas
By Kim Pilling, PA
Published: 27 April 2006
Rapper Snoop Dogg has been arrested after a disturbance at Heathrow airport.

The US star was detained by police when a row broke out after his 30-strong entourage was refused entry to the British Airways first-class lounge at the airport’s Terminal 1.

His party was then alleged to have moved to a duty-free shop where it was said they threw bottles of whisky to the floor and argued with staff.

Police were called to the airport and were escorting the group away from the scene when a further disturbance broke out, Scotland Yard said.

Seven officers received minor injuries – mainly cuts and bruises – and one suffered a fracture to the hand.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “Police were called at 6pm last night to reports of a disturbance involving 30 people in a business lounge at Terminal 1.

“The party was told that they would not be permitted to board their flight and officers then attempted to direct the group to baggage reclaim.

“A number of the group became abusive and pushed officers.”

Six men aged in their 30s, including Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, 34, were arrested on charges of violent disorder and affray.

The spokesman added: “The men, who are all US citizens, are in custody at two West London police stations.”

Snoop and his group were due to board a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, before the row broke out.

The superstar rapper grew up on the gang-infested streets of Long Beach, California and ended up on the wrong side of the law.

In 1993 he was tried and acquitted for murder – the same year he found fame with debut album Doggystyle.

Since then he has become a movie star, appearing in the Starsky and Hutch remake, and has even been invited to speak at the Oxford Union.

Rapper Snoop Dogg has been arrested after a disturbance at Heathrow airport.

The US star was detained by police when a row broke out after his 30-strong entourage was refused entry to the British Airways first-class lounge at the airport’s Terminal 1.

His party was then alleged to have moved to a duty-free shop where it was said they threw bottles of whisky to the floor and argued with staff.

Police were called to the airport and were escorting the group away from the scene when a further disturbance broke out, Scotland Yard said.

Seven officers received minor injuries – mainly cuts and bruises – and one suffered a fracture to the hand.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “Police were called at 6pm last night to reports of a disturbance involving 30 people in a business lounge at Terminal 1.

“The party was told that they would not be permitted to board their flight and officers then attempted to direct the group to baggage reclaim.
“A number of the group became abusive and pushed officers.”

Six men aged in their 30s, including Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, 34, were arrested on charges of violent disorder and affray.

The spokesman added: “The men, who are all US citizens, are in custody at two West London police stations.”

Snoop and his group were due to board a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, before the row broke out.

The superstar rapper grew up on the gang-infested streets of Long Beach, California and ended up on the wrong side of the law.

In 1993 he was tried and acquitted for murder – the same year he found fame with debut album Doggystyle.

Since then he has become a movie star, appearing in the Starsky and Hutch remake, and has even been invited to speak at the Oxford Union.

*********************************************************
6 March 2006
Just when you think the voting is over for this year, you get to choose who you think should be supporting SNOOP. We salute the Peoples Concert for such a democratic approach to choosing the support band. We’ve been wondering who it is!

After seeing HHP on Friday night at the Bassline – we give him our vote! BUT HE MUST HAVE HIS WHOLE BAND WITH HIM!!!! HHP rocks! Next in our minds would be Skwatta or Morafe. GOOD LUCK!

SMS your choice to: PREMIER plus ARTIST NAME to 34818 and stand a chance to win free tickets to the concert! SMS’s are charged at R2.00 each. The final selection is determined by your votes and at the discretion of Premier Foods and BIG Concerts.

So the choices are:

Amu
Loyiso
Black Noise
Lungelo
Bongo Maffin
Mandla Spikiri
Brasse Vannie Kaap
Morafe
Carla Diamond
Redds
HHP
Skwatta Kamp
Hidden Force
Unathi
Ishmail
Zola
Jamali

***************************************
23 February
So by now you know we’ll be sipping on Gin and Juice in April to the sweet sounds of the actor, businessman, smoothmover, musican and producer SNOOP DOGG. Ok his acting skills are questionable but d*mn his music is the bomb… Just think about “From the depths of the seas… Drop it like it’s hot” Snoops soul filled the 90’s with wonderful memorable bashes all over the place and he certainly hasn’t gone away in the noughties either.

Here’s the news:

PEOPLE’s CELEBRATION (click here for more)
The celebration takes place on three dates at stadiums across the country, and boasts top International artists, together with some of the finest talent SA has to offer.

The festival is being held in celebration of Premier Foods becoming the biggest 100% Black – owned company in South Africa – The Peoples Promise Delivered. Set to become an annual festival, The Peoples Celebration Concert kicks off on the 27th of April at Johannesburg Stadium, then heading to the ABSA Stadium in Durban on the 29th, and on to the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, on the 1st of May.

The continuous ten-hour world-class event is the first of its kind in the country, and is brought to you in conjunction with the biggest ever on-pack promotion run by Premier Foods and their Peoples Brands.

The star-studded line-up includes Hip Hop Icon Snoop Dogg, dancehall superstar Sean Paul, superlative singing sensation Mario, Caribbean Queen, Rihanna, and the hottest acts SA has to offer!

Although only 137 000 lucky people will get to attend the concerts, SABC 1 will be filming them for broadcast, reaching 23 million people across South Africa.

The Premier Foods brands are of the people, and for the people, and are offering you R500 000 in people’s prizes. There are R200 000 worth of FREE tickets to the concerts, and fans stand the chance to win R100 000 in cash at each of the three concerts. (See all Premier Foods packs for further details)