METHOD MAN REDMAN & GHOSTFACE KILLAH ROLLED OUT THE CLASSICS IN NYC!

NEW YORK — Now there's a real rap fan: a lady wearing a dress and high-heel pumps, jumping up and down like Dwight Howard in a slam-dunk contest to the sounds of Method Man's "Bring the Pain." Thursday night at the Nokia Theatre, Meth and Redman and Ghostface Killah headlined a bill which also included Keith Murray and Duo Live.

Girls in pumps, sandals and sneakers joined an assortment of male Wu-Tang/ Def Squad fanatics at the Nokia to welcome three of hip-hop's historically dopest MCs.
The Ticallion Stallion and the Funk Doctor — who hit the stage last — started off with a bunch of new material from their current LP, Blackout 2.

Songs like "City Lights" and "Ayo" warmed up the crowd during their set. But the real action came when Meth and Red rolled out their classics. No knock to their new material, but the crowd seemed more eager to hear the songs that have stood the test of time. They were ready to embrace the classics. Even Red himself said he was ready for the "old sh--."

The set included an energetic exchange of the duo's solo hits. First Red hit hard with "Time 4 Sum Aksion." Method kept the energy level at its peak with "Method Man." Red followed up with "Tonight's Da Night," and just when you thought it couldn't get any higher, Mr. Meth dropped "Bring the Pain." The way the crowd was jumping, it felt like a vintage 1994 concert. The hits still sound fresh.

The only disappointment of Red and Meth's program was one of their biggest joint hits, "How High." Instead of running around the stage and bouncing off the walls as we've been accustomed to seeing, the two gave a very calm performance of the song, standing in place center stage doing a two-step.

"Da Rockwilder" was a more energetic end to the show.

Ghostface, who came on earlier in the night, paraded wall-to-wall hits. Special guest Raekwon came out to tag-team on the audience performing a gaggle of cherished gems like "C.R.E.A.M." and "Can It Be All So Simple."

There was a very genuine moment when Ghost hugged Rae and said, "I miss you, my brother."

"Me and this n---a made history with the 'Purple,' " Ghost added, talking about Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Ironically Ghost's next LP, The Wizard of Poetry, and Cuban Linx II come out around the same time in early September.

Mr. Starks ended his set with "Chez Chez La Ghost" and "Back Like That."