Photo: Elleni Toumpas

There is only one conceivable answer to the question, “What’s my motherfuckin’ name, biatch?”, and there is no-one at the Entertainment Centre tonight who doesn’t know it. It is awash early with girls squeezed into scraps of lycra and teenage gangstas bearing pictures of a snarling Snoop on their black T-shirts. The gig opens with a characteristically frenetic, energetic performance by Bone Thugs ‘n’ Harmony; before Ice Cube swaggers onto the stage with “Hello”, and the fans go wild. The Cube teaches us to cross our middle fingers and say “west side” (don’t try this in the Bronx, folks). After a couple of bland new tracks (the worst of which may be Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It), he shifts into some NWA tunes (notably Straight Outta Compton) to get everyone back on side. There is a hysterical reaction when the Doggfather, in pigtails and pyjamas, takes the stage. Gin And Juice and Beautiful (“for the ladies”) are favourites among the older fans and Drop It Like It’s Hot and Signs among the teenagers, but it’s The Next Episode that really sends everyone into a spin. For the encore he asks that very simple question, and the answer is unanimous: “Snoop Doggy Do-o-o-o-og”, fo’ shizzle, ma nizzle.

FRANCES STEPHENSON

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