Smokin’ Grooves Tour Ends With a Block Party

Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, the Fugees, Spearhead, Cypress Hill and Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers had something to prove when they launched the Smokin’ Grooves Tour six weeks ago. Not only did they want to show that a diverse group of hip-hop and reggae acts could do respectable business, but also that they could do it without the violent incidents or other problems that have been associated with rap shows.

The tour’s finale on Monday at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre felt like a straight-up block party, and hot music was the only focus.

“If you still sittin’ down in your chair by now, you need to go [expletive] home!” chided the boisterous Busta Rhymes during his rambunctious set. By the time he got through such songs as “Abandon Ship” and “It’s a Party,” the majority of the crowd of about 7,000 was on its feet, doing something like the tomahawk chop to a hip-hop beat.

Once A Tribe Called Quest hit the stage 20 minutes later, the fans didn’t get a chance to sit down the rest of the night. Playing both old and new hits, Quest did one of its most entertaining live sets ever, with rousing versions of “Electric Relaxation,” “Oh My God” and the group’s latest hit single, “1nce Again.” Busta Rhymes was so worked up that he even returned to the stage, helping the group get through rip-roaring versions of “Scenario” and “Phony Rappers.”

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But it was Cypress Hill and the Fugees who took the party to a new level by mixing their tracks with live instruments, elaborate lighting and theatrical visual stunts.

Fugees leader Wyclef descended from the rafters on a rope to the theme of “Mission: Impossible,” picked up a guitar and proceeded to warm up the crowd with a medley of rap instrumental hits, to the backing of a live band. Soon after, bandmates Pras and Lauryn Hill came out and performed the hits “Fugee-La” and “Killing Me Softly.” Instead of just duplicating the records, they slowed down the grooves, making them sound like dancehall reggae.

Cypress Hill followed with its upbeat, smoke-filled party jams. On earlier stops on the tour, Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers’ closing set served as exit music, but fans were having such a good time on Monday that they stayed through the whole performance, which included their own hits as well as moving renditions of some dad Bob Marley’s songs. As they performed “Get Up, Stand Up,” with members of the Fugees, Cypress Hill and Spearhead singing backup, one got the feeling that it was the kind of party that could have lasted all night.