Nas and Damian Marley’s Sunday show at the Avila Beach Golf Resort was a celebration of hip-hop, reggae and marijuana smoking.
Although signs indicated that tailgating was strictly prohibited, blunts, joints and other smoking utensils were passed left and right from one side of the crowd to another.
Despite the stormy weather, giant clouds of smoke filled the area — and the security guards did not overtly stop anyone from having their share of the marijuana, which is currently illegal except for medicinal uses under a physician-verified medical card.
The opening act, Latin and reggae-rock band Rey Fresco, even encouraged the crowd to partake in smoking.
“Feel free to light one up — it’s Sunday,” lead singer Roger Keiaho of Rey Fresco said.
Rey Fresco opened its act with the instrumental jam “Ninja Kush” (“kush” is a form of marijuana). Harpist and vocalist Xocoyotzin Moraza joked about the title.
“It’s a song about a farmer,” Moraza said and began his harp jam.
As Rey Fresco played songs from its debut LP “The People,” rain hit the arena. Fans put their hoods on, popped open umbrellas and listened to Rey Fresco play, enjoying the act but waiting for Nas and Marley to hit the stage.
Once Rey Fresco ended its act with a cover of Buena Vista Social Club’s “Chan Chan,” the rain had stopped and a rainbow highlighted the cloudy sky.
Fans cheered and took pictures of the rainbow and about a half hour later, a little after 5 p.m., Nas and Marley were introduced. Before Nas and Marley hit the stage, a deejay played popular and significant hip-hop songs to get the crowd energized.
Nas, Marley and their high-energy band opened the show with the drum-heavy “Tribes at War.” The backup singers sang and gyrated to the African-sounding beat and a man twirled a Rastafarian flag during the entire show.
After a few more songs together, Marley left the stage and Nas began his solo session with the song “Represent” from his most critically acclaimed, RIAA-certified gold album “Illmatic.” He went on to perform some of his most well-known songs to an excited crowd: “Hip Hop is Dead,” “Got Yourself a Gun,” “Made You Look,” “Hate Me Now” and more.
Marley joined Nas on stage later and the duo performed a set of songs from their album “Distant Relatives,” including “Leaders,” “Strong Will Continue” and “Count Your Blessings.” Of the latter song, Marley told the audience to count their own blessings, including the clean water they drink and the marijuana that they were smoking freely. The crowd smoked simultaneously during the course of Nas and Marley’s set.
Marley finally had his chance to perform solo — causing the crowd to move and groove as he performed his most well-known song “Welcome to Jamrock” in addition to others. During both Nas and Marley’s solo sessions, one of the two played bongo drums while the other performed his hit.
Nas and Marley did a few more songs from their socially conscious and Africa centric collaboration as Nas took a puff from an audience member’s blunt or joint.
Later in the show, Nas thanked the crowd for attending, bowed with Marley and admitted he wanted to smoke more, but after part of the crowd chanted “one more song,” Marley and Nas returned to center stage and performed a few more songs. Nas got his share of marijuana when an audience member passed him a blunt.
Marley introduced the closing song “Could You Be Loved” by asking the crowd who liked Bob Marley, the original performer of the song. The crowd screamed and applauded as Marley began singing his late father’s well-known song.
After the concert, some fans rushed to the tour bus to get a glimpse of either Nas or Marley. Most fans seemed to have enjoyed the concert.
Communication studies junior Fatema Etemadi loved the concert and how “there was a diverse group of people, all seemingly sharing the love of hip-hop and reggae-style music, while all bringing their own personal style.”
Audience members ranged from middle school-aged to adult. People from all generations danced to the songs.
“The concert was entertaining from start to finish,” Etemadi said. “Although it was cold and rainy, it was definitely worth seeing Nas and Damian Marley.”
Bioresource and agricultural engineering sophomore Cassandra Durler said she enjoyed Marley and Nas’ blending of hip-hop and reggae styles.
“They kept the whole crowd going crazy the entire show,” Durler said. “There was never a dull moment on stage or in the crowd.”
The Facebook page of the Avila Beach Concerts at the Cove later posted a thank you message to those who attended and they called the show “one of the best concerts of the season.”