"WINTERFEST" or "GHETTO - MESS" ?!!!

So last friday night, thanks to the help of Vic Latino and The New Party 105.3, (101.5 in Nassau) *shameless plug* , I got a chance to attend the Hot 97 (in conjunction with Get Wet ent., DOH Care Promotions, & The College Union) Winter Fest 2008. The start studded event was scheduled to have live performances from Birdman, DJ Khaled, Fabolous, Fat Joe, Flo - Rida, J-Holiday, Juelz Santana, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, and Trey Songz. Birdman and J-Holiday never showed up for the fun but, to their expense, 2 surprise guests came onto the Nassau Coliseum concert stage, and caused sheer hype & pandemonium that it made most forget who didn't show up that was scheduled to. The stage was set up with 3 titantrons (2 large ones, positioned on the left and right side of the stage while a smaller, circular shaped one was atop the center of the stage. The stage it self had a decent decor of special lighting effects, and a smaller 3 large DJ podiums with the largest one in the middle. DJ Enuff was the host DJ, and played in the middle podium for the whole evening while DJ's for the respected performance acts, chose either side to use; left or right. The show was also scheduled to start sharply at 7:30pm but, did not start till' about 8pm. DJ Enuff plays music to get everybody (the crowd) going before the first act of the evening. About 8:15pm and its Show time folks!


1. Juelz Santana - There is really nothing much that I have to say about the his lackluster performance besides the fact that he stated he was angry because he was 1st person to perform in the line up being that he is a New York resident and the event was held in ... New York. But I asked myself cause I wasn't sure, does Juelz have a new hit record out in radio rotation?

2. Trey songs- Ladies can't help but SCREAM when this guy performs, especially when he took his shirt off. His performance was very good for what he brought in the the venue as an r&b crooner. "Trey Day" in stores!

3.Snoop dogg- first and foremost, I must say that I was extremely disappointed that they made Snoop perform in the first half of the performances. I think they should've showed him more love for being a credible veteran of this game for 15+ years. Not only that but his introduction became less dramatic as it would've been because he was faced with mic distortion (Thanks Nassau Coliseum) The crowd did start to get a little antsy but Snoop saves the day! He begins his set with "whats my name" then ... "Drop it like its hot". He then goes into classics such as  "gin & juice" and the crowd is all in his command. I also must say that I personally am not a weed smoker (never tried or anything, and I don't catch contact high; seriously) but, I dont ever think that I ever seen a concert so "baked" out by THC in any concert like I seen during Snoop's performance LOL. Snoops ends his set by showing his soft side, playing on a keyboard rendition for "sensual seduction" ... Ladies were indeed "flattered". Snoop Dogg has great respect for New York while performing he asks the audience "They say you spell west, without the ES" (meaning east side). Class Act plus I've never seen so much herbal intake in my LIFE.

*Show interludes with a set from DJ Enuff*

4.T-Pain -  Now this guy takes the title for the weirdest and I mean weirdest, introduction of the night. Some type of  crazy humming, meditation esque intro from his 2 hype-men before Mr. Pain hits the stage, after he appears after about 7 minutes, he  then jumps into the "good life" chorus!, then he interludes briefly about "certain" folks in the industry, copying his 808 sound then he goes into a freestyle with the "I  Get money" beat . (The dream & 50 cent). Then he goes on to sing all of the songs he made a guest appearance on, which is almost every song that was on the billboard top 100 hip hop & r&b charts ... Fabolous makes a surprise appearance onto his set for the festivities.

5. Fabolous - After making an appearance on t-pain's set, to perform "Baby Don't Go" , he then make it his own, jamming to a variety of hits from all of his urban acclaimed albums. He thanks new york for all of their support and love, thanks t-pain, he and his posse hand the stage back to Mr. Tedddypinnedherassdown!

6. (DJ khaled, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, & Flo-Rida) - T-Pan is still on stage but here comes Mr. "WE DA BESSSST" and now the show begins. He starts out with "I'm So Hood" and as T-Pain sings the hook, RICK ROSS (who I have now become fan off) came out and spit his verse and showed off his chain, right after, FAT JOE comes out, the crowd is now going bananas. Singing his verse off of the remix then, out of sheer surprise the one and only BUSTA RHYMES comes onto the stage, with a Frank Lucas type swag (his outfit) and has the crowd in sheer excitement. As the song begins to cease, DJ Khaled teases with the crowd and asks T-Pain to sing "The Song". T -Pain begins to interludes to make fans a little confused but soon enough, clarity came when FLO - RIDA came onto the stage to sing "Low". He also showed that he is the 50 Cent of Florida, having his whole back tatted up with an imprint of the state. This was unarguably  one of the best live performances  I've ever witnessed for a medley of hit songs that ran strong for the past 3 years from each of these artists (and of course ... "Lean back" ... Without REMY!). Make it rain on em' Joey!,  

7. DJ Khaled returns to the mic to talk to the crowd a little more and have some fun before he brings out his next guest ... JIM JONES. Yes, The Capo disturbs the noise! Jim Jones enters the stage ( along with a reappearing Juelz Santana and the Dipset bird gang crew with them) He gets on the mic and tries to perform for New York, but their seems to be some major confusions. Jimmy then gets a little frustrated and asked DJ Enuff "Why does this happen when I come on Enuff?". There was no resolution to the sound problems so Jim Jones and his troupe leave the stage but, in a very mature manner. He thanks New York, and explains the situation assertively.

There's trouble in paradise ... The nassau coliseum staff cuts out the audio and there it is ... The show immediately is over with no special lighting or big bang performance that was fiend for by many people who paid them greens (no grass)  to spectate this event. In all, aside from most of its highlights,  this concert was probably one of the most horribly organized event that I've ever been to (Doh Care, Get WET, I Love you guys but, I gotta be honest, sorry!). My tickets were definently vindicated for its worth &  the price I paid for them; NOTHING!  


I guess its time to "Glow In The Dark" ... Ye Dig ???!!!