Cypress Hill Leads Electrifying Hip-Hop Bill at The Amp Ballantyne

It’s safe to say that the average Charlottean doesn’t associate hip-hop music with the Ballantyne area, but that changed, if just for an evening, when the Dank Daze of Summer tour rolled through The Amp on Tuesday.

The show brought Cypress Hill, Atmosphere, Lupe Fiasco and The Pharcyde to south Charlotte a stellar night of beats and rhymes. Though a light shower passed through as Atmosphere took the stage, it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of those in attendance.

While opening acts are sometimes looked over in favor of the main event, this show got started with a 25-minute set from The Pharcyde that set the tone for the evening. Rapper Imani was a constant man in motion as he paced the stage, danced and acted out various verses. The crowd peaked during the trio’s 1992 hit “Passin’ Me By,” but a short turnover between artists kept emotions high.

Lupe Fiasco urged fans to fill any open spots in the general admission pit before he would even rap one verse. “You can go back to your seats when I’m done,” he told the crowd.

From there, he quick-fired song after song, noting that he was mostly just offering the first verse of each respective track so as to provide a career-spanning set that included “Kick, Push” (2006) and “Superstar” (2007) in his relatively short time slot.

Atmosphere soaked the outdoor music venue in positivity next. Rapper Slug was consistently smiling as he engaged with the crowd to keep the vibes up. A generational underground talent from Minneapolis, his music might not have been as popular on radio stations as other artists on the bill, but there’s no doubt he had loyal fans in the crowd and won over new fans with his messages and freestyle skills.

The main course was Cypress Hill, and despite decades of success, a majority of people in attendance raised their hands when asked if it was their first time seeing the LA-based Latin American rap group.

Rappers B-Real and Sen Dog came on stage with hit after hit, opening with “Shoot ‘Em Up,” “When the Shit Goes Down” and “A to the K.” From there, the band peppered in plenty of favorites, such as “Cock the Hammer,” “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That” and “Insane in the Brain.”

The group’s set was relentless, all the way up through the closing salvo of “How I Could Just Kill a Man,” a cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Bomb Track,” their own “(Rock) Superstar” and a closing cover of House of Pain’s “Jump Around.”

Cypress Hill might not come to the area often, but when they do, they bring the party and a performance worthy of note. The Dank Daze of Summer Tour will continue through Aug. 29, with stops remaining in the northeast and Midwest.

Cypress HIll setlist
Shoot ‘Em Up
When the Shit Goes Down
A to the K
Illusions
Boom Biddy Bye Bye
Cock the Hammer
Lowrider
Tequila Sunrise
Latin Lingo
I Wanna Get High/Cisco Kid
Dr. Greenthumb
Hits From the Bong
I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That
Insane in the Brain
How I Could Just Kill a Man
Bombtrack
(Rock) Superstar
Jump Around

Atmosphere setlist
Okay
The Loser Wins
Shoulda Known
Fuck You Lucy
GodLovesUgly
Puppets
Really
Sunshine
Yesterday
The Best Day
God’s Bathroom Floor
Scapegoat
Freestyle
Trying to Find Balance

Lupe Fiasco setlist
Around My Way
Samurai
Kick, Push
SOS
Hip-Hop Saved My Life
NAOMI
Fundamentals
Touch the Sky
Out of My Head
Superstar
Daydreamin’
The Show Goes On

Be sure to check out Queen City Nerve’s Soundwave, Charlotte’s most comprehensive live music listing, so you don’t miss out on any shows or concerts coming up. And hell, if you’re looking for something else to do, you can check out our events page as well, which runs the gamut of things to do in Charlotte. You don’t ever have to be bored again. You can check out more of Jeff’s pics and live reviews here.