Time travel is real. On June 7, 2019 the annual Common Ground Music Festival kicked off its 20th anniversary with the much-adored “I Love the 90s Tour” at Cooley Law Stadium in Lansing, MI. With its stellar line-up of C&C Music Factory, Young MC, All 4 One, Kid N Play, Coolio, Rob Base, and Vanilla Ice, these stars packed the home of baseball team Lansing Lugnuts with people screaming for hits.
We were in the front the stage wearing our brightly-colored Air Force 1 sneakers and carrying flip phones. We knew the best throwbacks were just an air touch away.
Vanilla Ice headlined this nostalgia fest with an overall exciting performance. Aided by DJ Chopsticks and drummer Trent Laugerman, Ice opened his set with a thumping version of “Prozac” from his album ‘Hard to Swallow’.
Sticking with a remix vibe Ice next performed an edgy version of “Ninja Rap 2” from LP ‘Platinum Underground’. During this number a person in a Ninja Turtle (Raphael) costume and another dressed as WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio joined Ice on stage, each of them dancing around to the delight of the audience.
As the set progressed Ice was joined by tour mate Coolio for an off-the-cuff variation of “Freestyle” that segued into “Play That Funky Music”. Ice and his crew pulled people from the audience to join the party on stage before clearing the desk for his performance of “Ice Ice Baby” that was one-half original version, one-half rock version “Too Cold”. We joined Vanilla Ice backstage post-concert for pictures and lots of laughs.
Coolio performed a fun, and sometimes funny, set of his own, getting everyone singing along to “Fantastic Voyage” and “Gangsta’s Paradise. One cool moment saw the Maad Circle member exit the stage to give the spotlight to his band and a featured saxophone player.
Legendary east coast rhymer Rob Base killed during his set between Coolio and Vanilla Ice. Keeping the crowd hyped and energized with their arms waving in the air, Base dedicated his performance to his late DJ E-Z Rock. After a little “Joy & Pain” the audience erupted for “It Takes Two”.
Each of the earlier acts received their share of ovations as well. The trip down memory lane drove straight through Cooley Law Stadium and we all enjoyed the ride. |THIS
[Written by Mr. Joe Walker | Follow THIS on Twitter @THISENT1]
