Live Review: Coolio

The vibe was relatively mellow for resident DJs J-Castell and crew, as the eclectic crowd slowly meandered into SOHO’s new RnB and hip hop night, LA.LA.

Nostalgic hip hop tracks kept punters content in anticipation for everyone’s favourite gangster to appear. A respectable dance party took form with party people wiggling it to everything from Digital Underground, LL Cool J to Kriss Kross and Cypress Hill. The heat was turned up when dancer, Christina Montero, took to the stage sporting all sorts of spandex and some rather fly moves. But enthusiasm simmered when night turned to late evening with still no sign of The Grammy Award Winner. 

Young Lesh jumped on the mic with a cover of Dre and Snoop's Ain't Nuthin’ But A G Thang and other hits that gave the now lethargic dance party a bit more pep. 

By 1am it began to seem like maybe a certain amount of stalling was taking place. But the MCs held the fort despite chants for the headliner right up until the moment finally arrived. 

Jarez not only supported the set as a hype man, but added a surprising saxophone element.

With a quick introduction from cousin, and professional saxophonist, Jarez, the crowd went wild when the infamous Coolio finally hopped on stage. The initially gritty sounding 51-year old jumped right into it, immediately hands were raised around the room. Jarez not only supported the set as a hype man, but added a surprising saxophone element that complemented the retro rapper’s beats nicely.

A hat-clad, shades-wearing Coolio addressed the noisy fans and asked, “What should you do before you touch a girl?” His answer? “Wash your hands!” He then dropped a rather raunchy new ditty called Play With The Pussy and smoothed into top hits 1, 2, 3, 4 and I’ll C U When You Get Here, each receiving an appropriately roaring reaction. 

A drive-by audio track prompted the duo to hide behind the DJ booth, but it was just a dramatic prelude to the epic Gangster’s Paradise. A 200-person sing-along closed the set with Coolio jumping off stage for a rather heartfelt interaction with the crowd. Nearly every fan in the club got a hug and a photo fulfilling the music enthusiast’s fantasy - circa ’95.