DJ Cassidy’s Star-Studded Pass The Mic Live! Las Vegas Residency Ends On High Note
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! Las Vegas Residency marked the latest milestone in the cultural event’s evolution from digital concert to bonafide tour.
Set at the Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood and taking place over the course of three weeks, DJ Cassidy brought out some of Hip-Hop’s most legendary acts to assist him in lighting up the city. Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick, and Doug E. Fresh served as the headliners throughout Cassidy’s six-show excursion, which included a host of special guests that partook in the festivities, passing the mic to one another while serenading the crowd with some of the greatest hits in their respective catalogs.
The last show of the Pass The Mic Live! Las Vegas Residency took place on Saturday (July 20) evening and provided non-stop action, from beginning to end. Opening the proceedings with a video montage of various Pass The Mic alums, friends and fans singing the platforms praises, DJ Cassidy set the turntables ablaze with a wide-ranging set of jams, after which Doug E. Fresh took the stage. The worldclass entertainer warmed up the crowd with a slew of call-and-response chants before his Get Fresh Crew brother, Slick Rick, joined him on stage.
Timeless anthems such as “The Show,” Children’s Story,” and “Hey Young World” all got burn, giving attendees a refreshing blast from the past and putting the energy in the building on a tilt. From there, Bronx bomber Fat Joe took over, trudging through his grab-bag of hits, as Remy Ma popped up for added reinforcement while they performed their chart-topping classic “Lean Back.” The next special guest of the night was presented as Brooklyn’s own Lil Vicious was summoned for his quintessential NSFW bop, “Freaks.
Taking a detour from the East, DJ Cassidy headed out West with the help of Warren G, who emerged for “Regulate” and “Hey DJ,” whereas Dogg Pound member Kurupt performed his portion of the Death Row classic “Ain’t No Fun,” eliciting a raucous reaction from the crowd. The Bay was also represented, as Too $hort laid down game via his mid-aughts hits “Blow The Whistle” and “Shake That Monkey.”
A heavy does of southern hospitality was served up by Jermaine Dupri and Midwestern cohort Da Brat, as the dynamic dup ran through nearly every hit imaginable, both as soloists and a tandem. Having gone through a wardrobe change, Ja Rule and Fat Joe both returned with more hits. Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick closed out the show on an epic note, as they were joined by Joe and Ja for a building-shaking performance of “La Di Da Di.”
The Pass The Mic Live! Las Vegas Residency presented three weekends of shows that got better each time and encapsulated the camaraderie, showmanship, and entertainment that DJ Cassidy imagined for the show. That impact will continue to resonate, as the host that’s given us his most throughout his career plots the platforms next move.
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