The Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles provided the stage for the 93.5 KDAY Fresh Fest concert. The West Coast Warlords who once dominated the musical airwaves put on a show for the City of Angels that will arguably never be forgotten.
Classic hip-hop acts like Kid Frost, DJ Quik, Tha Dogg Pound, Warren G, and headliner Ice Cube came together blazing the mics to the sold-out crowd of 20,000. Playing to a predominately 30 and over Latino audience, standard L.A. bangers like “Regulator” and “Summertime in the LBC” took the audience back to a nostalgic time in West Coast music.
For a moment, the audience was taken back to a time when the economy was booming, people were spending money, and the overall quality of life was seemingly better. Now almost 20 years later, 2pac’s music is still played on the radio every day, Snoop Dogg is branded and known around the world, and Ice Cube, the former “Ni**a with an Attitude,” is a household name who has achieved commercial success in the movie and television arenas.
When Ice Cube hit the stage and 40-year-old men jumped out of their seats with “four fingers up and two twisted in the middle,” it was a testament to the fact that he has managed to retain his street credibility while simultaneously knocking out Hollywood’s box office with family friendly material. Cube has obviously figured out the blueprint for long-term entertainment success. With the release of his new album, aptly titled I Am the West, future hip-hoppers should pay close attention to his musical methodology.
One cannot deny how great the West Coast music scene once was or how desperately in need it is of a new generation of artists to take it back to its glory days. There’s no question that California knows how to party — the real question is, who’s got next? –m. melendy
