Firstly, you always know when there’s a classic act playing in town when it seems like every popular local act is playing support and the rest are in the crowd.

5 Acts played support and then it was time for the M.O.B.B!

They came out blazing with a new track from their new album Blood Money that no one seemed to know but the crisp drums snapped everybody’s head straight away with the nod factor. Following on was a Mobb anthem ‘Survival of the Fittest’, from the Infamous album- it was banging! Queensbridge was in the building and this mid nineties classic was bringing smiles to the dials in seconds.

I was feeling that track but when ‘Out of Control’ their first G Unit single started cranking the new school kids were reaching for the sky and I was suddenly reminded how this group has transcended hip-hop generations. They proceeded to roll in to some new material and once again the crowd was satisfied with the beats alone, and following whatever the MC’s, Havoc and prodigy asked. Following on from that a new artist called ‘40 Glocc’ on a sub label came to the stage. He bounced a few of his west coast meets G-Unit tracks, showed his Maori tattoo, and exited stage left leaving the crowd feeling good on his energy.

At this stage I thought Alchemist wasn’t in Auckland as advertised, but then he proceeded to come out on the M.I.C and kick a few verses and deliver a solid rhyme or 3, ala Kanye West. Very nice. Then we headed straight back in to Classic territory with ‘Infamous’ and ‘Hell on Earth’ cuts that got that smile right back and the lips syncing to every word. The one thing that held this gig back was their need to play to 2 different crowds and then they tried to play to the ladies as well with club tracks- very confusing, and the silence and middle fingers in the air when they asked for a call and respond spoke volumes. But all was definitely not lost. They came out with a three-punch combo that Shane Cameron would like. ‘Shook Ones’ followed by ‘Quiet Storm’ and then ‘Got It twisted’. Damn! I could of seen just those three tracks alone and left happy. After that the crowd energy seemed to acknowledge that the biggest Mobb Deep tunes had been played and the ensuing tracks were still enjoyed but the crowd was already thinking about the ride home. But damn what a ride we had at the concert.

Three things will stick in my mind from this concert – someone putting their crutches in the air when partying to a track, Prodigy’s jewellery and the crowd lip-syncing so many songs like the national anthem. Classic Hip hop, classic tracks, classic group.

My Wordperfect rating 7/10

Deaf Ears: Speaker On Support For Mojo Mathers

Scoop Audio: In a press conference this afternoon Speaker Lockwood Smith defended his handling of requests for support for profoundly deaf MP Mojo Mathers' participation in Parliament, and said he was "deeply concerned" by the way the issue had been portrayed.

Earlier today the Greens said they had been told they would have to fund support Mathers requires out of their own budget. More>>