Supreme Genes Entertainments cements history at the Phoenix Concert Theatre

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Queens Borough was in the building on Sunday, December 15^th, 2024, at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. Hip-Hop heads packed the legendary Phoenix Concert Hall. The venue, a cornerstone of Toronto’s music scene, is set to close its doors forever tonight, making this a bittersweet farewell.

Toronto hip-hop fans welcomed The Infamous MOBB DEEP, Havoc, Smif & Wessun, and BigNoyd for The Infamous 30^th Anniversary Concert. The stage was ablaze with the iconic figures of hip-hop history. The show ended with Havoc and BigNoyd taking center stage, their presence commanding the room. Smif-N-Wessun, the dynamic duo from Duck Down Records, preceded them, their energy infectious. Buckshot, a legend in his own right, was unable to make the trip, but he would have completed the lineup with his raw, underground sound.

Sunday night, we paid homage to the legends, the pioneers of gritty, raw hip-hop. We celebrated Duck Down Music and the undisputed kings of the underground, Smif-N-Wessun! Smif-N-Wessun, the dynamic duo of Tek and Steele, brought the fire of the Dah Shinin’ era to the stage, representing Duck Down Music with undeniable swagger. Their intricate rhymes flowed seamlessly over the hard-hitting beats, igniting the crowd with classics like “Bucktown,” Tek’s deep baritone and Steele’s rapid-fire delivery complemented each other perfectly, creating an electrifying synergy that showcased the raw talent and lyrical prowess that made them legends of the golden age of hip-hop.

It wasn’t just the music that made the night special. The intermissions were as powerful as the sets themselves. Merciless seamlessly blended old favorites with newer tracks, keeping the energy high and the dance floor packed. The crowd roared as the familiar beats of ’90s hip hop filled the room. Songs I hadn’t heard in years – classics from Nas, Biggie, and Tupac – blasted through the speakers, igniting a wave of nostalgia.

Lord Fury, with his signature swagger, commanded the stage and launched into his raucous anthem, “Lightskinned b*#ches” a comedic masterpiece that had the crowd roaring with laughter. Asun the God graced the stage bringing all that Toronto fire, and Cormega was presented with the coveted People’s Champ belt. The excitement reached a fever pitch as Lord Fury welcomed Johnny Pro to the microphone. Pro announced the most anticipated news of the night: Wrestling Legend Kurt Angle’s visit to Toronto next year.

I truly don’t know what I can say in this background that hasn’t been said about this album time and time again. Havoc and Prodigy give it their all on The Infamous. With features of some of New York’s finest: Nas, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Q-Tip, and BigNoyd. Combining boom bap with a gritty and hardcore style, Mobb Deep made their mark on east coast hip-hop creating one of the greatest rap albums of all time.

The album’s 16 tracks are some of the greatest hip-hop songs to come out of New York. Prodigy and Havoc’s chemistry was undeniable, and Havoc’s production chops are incredible till this day. He can take small snippets of soothing jazz pieces and flip them into gritty and haunting boom bap pieces. This is one of the greatest albums ever.

As the lights dimmed, the beat dropped, and the crowd erupted in a frenzy. The iconic sounds of “Shook Ones” filled the air, sending shivers down everyone’s spine. The energy was electric as the legends performed their timeless hits, each verse a testament to their enduring legacy.

As the night progressed, the crowd sang along to every word, their voices a testament to the impact of Mobb Deep and their contemporaries. This is more than just a concert; it was a celebration of hip-hop history, a final farewell to an iconic venue, and a testament to the enduring power of music to bring people together.