DJ Cassidy, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh celebrated the grand opening of their “Pass the Mic Live!” Las Vegas residency at Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood on July 6, and Public Enemy and Raekwon of Wu Tang Clan joined them as surprise guests.
The succeeding roster of hip-hop icons was set to include Akon, Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat, Too $hort and Warren G for the finale on July 20, making each show a one-time-only event.
“DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live!” marks the first Las Vegas residency of its kind uniting an ensemble of hip-hop legends and channeling the spirit, showmanship and aesthetic of old world Las Vegas mainstays including The Rat Pack, Liberace, Wayne Newton and Elvis Presley.
The nonstop show featured artists individually and in unison. Fat Joe’s “All the Way Up” mashed with Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life,” while Ja Rule and Fat Joe’s “New York” intertwined with Sinatra’s “Theme From New York, New York.”
Quotes from Las Vegas- and New York-based films adorned the night’s musical elements, creating a theatrical backdrop for the classic hip-hop soundtrack, while elaborate Art Deco visuals served as backdrop to the Gatsby-inspired stage.
DJ Cassidy interweaved each artist’s appearance through a musical journey of hip-hop and R&B, igniting a singalong on the Strip. Chuck D united with longtime partner (and Las Vegas resident) Flavor Flav for their second U.S. appearance in seven years, performing a medley of their hits, including “Fight the Power.”
Raekwon stunned concertgoers with a medley of more than a dozen solo and Wu Tang Clan classics. Slick Rick rose from the ground on a king’s throne, while Doug E. Fresh wowed the audience with his human beatbox and a call-and-response. The night culminated with all five core artists onstage to perform a never-before-seen rendition of Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s seminal “Ladi Dadi.”
The Las Vegas residency is the culmination of a four-year journey that began in summer 2020 amid the global pandemic when DJ Cassidy birthed the heralded “Pass the Mic” series. Within three homegrown viral episodes and seven BET specials, Cassidy passed the mic to 220 legendary superstars spanning 40 years.
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Hello All, My name Tara I met Doug E” that night in the Casino lobby twice. The second time I fainted with my eyes open, I was shaking and trembling. I couldn’t even open my phone for his wife to take a picture. I was sad about that part but my Heart is still so full that I actually touched Doug. I smelled that one side of my dress all night . I felt like a kid in the candy store. I had a chance to scream I Love you and yes been loving him since I was a kid. It was the soft hair with the co co brown skin with his nostrils spread while them lips go to work. OK OK back to the concert it was fabulous, I loved every second me and my husband sometimes have kick backs and we will play DJ Cassidy cause we know for a few hours we can jam out with a little bit of everything. Congratulations Fellas and Ladies you did the damn thang…And Let’s Not Forget Love Doug E Fresh to Death. I really wish I had a pic … May God Continue to Bless you all.