As they have done before on numerous occasions, chronic co-conspirators Method Man and Redman brought high-energy hip-hop to Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, the final stop on their latest Canadian tour.
Unfazed by a lack of new material, the packed house ate up classic ’90s collabs “How High” and “Da Rockwilder,” as well as solo gems like “Method Man,” “All I Need” and a cover of “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” in heartfelt memory of Wu-Tang Clan’s late ODB. Special guests included Wu associate Street Life and Toronto’s own Saukrates, who stormed the stage in matching desert camo for their 2009 joint “A-Yo” from Blackout! 2.
At one point, Method Man tossed a bag of weed toward the crowd, landing at my feet. I scooped it up—only to have it snatched from my back pocket moments later by an overzealous and unscrupulous security guard. Easy ’dro, easy go, I suppose. Another dubious highlight came when Meth stared directly into my lens and soul, and flipped his middle finger while grinning like a 19 year old in a Canadian cannabis shop.
Method Man expressed their love and gratitude for Toronto’s continued support over the years, referencing last month’s disappointing reception from a young NYC crowd at Hot 97’s Summer Jam. To back up his words, he dove into the sea of adoring hip-hop heads for some old-school, pre-COVID crowdsurfing. Redman’s parting words were a surprisingly lucid call for love, vulnerability and connection—a throwback to hip-hop’s original values of peace and unity, and a timely message for our world today.
Openers included West Coast MCs Junk & Hungry, and local crew Reel Wolf Pack.
Photography by Andy Lee
