On a humid, stormy Saturday, the Firefly Distillery in Charleston, SC transformed into a haze-filled sanctuary for hip-hop heads, cannabis connoisseurs, and lovers of lyricism. Unfortunately, the sky didn’t cooperate, dropping fat drops of rain sporadically throughout the night. The crowd didn’t care. Ponchos crinkled, hoods on damp hoodies went up, and smoke filled the air. The Dank Daze of Summer tour had rolled onto the Firefly field. A tour with a name fitting the haze hovering over the crowd, and a lineup that reads like a hip-hop sacred text with the Pharcyde, Lupe Fiasco, Atmosphere, and Cypress Hill. And across four great sets, each act brought its own tone, tempo, and vibe.
From the moment Pharcyde dropped the beat for “Runnin'”, it was clear the night would be a celebration of hip-hop at its most soulful and most strange. Their set was pure nostalgia with bursts of chaotic energy. “Passin’ Me By” had the whole crowd swaying like it was ‘95 again. There’s a rare kind of joy in watching a group perform songs that defined a generation, and still sound fresh.
Lupe Fiasco brought a different kind of energy, cerebral, precise, yet explosive. Started his set with “The Cool” and “Dumb It Down”, Lupe reminded the crowd why he’s revered by writers and rappers alike. One of my favorite moments is when skateboard decks jutted out from the crowd and waved in the air while he performed “Kick, Push”. An anthem that gives skaters and lyric-heads alike their due. It was a reminder that “conscious” rap can still be cool and command a crowd.
Atmosphere hit the stage as the sun began to set, and it was clear the vibe was changing. Slug rapped with the grit and reflection of someone who’s walked through every lyric, while Ant laid down beats that were stripped-back but hard-hitting. They opened with “Trying to Find a Balance”. Slug’s delivery was unflashy, but piercing. “The Number None” brought nods from longtime fans mouthing every word. “Puppets” built steadily until the crowd shouted the chorus like it had always belonged to them. But I enjoyed it when Slug commanded the crowd to stick their middle fingers to the sky, and at one another, right before launching into the song “F’@k You Lucy” from God Loves Ugly.
Cypress Hill didn’t waste time building hype, they brought it with them. The two MCs, B-Real, Sen Dog, and Eric Bobo (drums) emerged on stage, backed by a rhythm section that hit like a sledgehammer provided by Eric “Bobo”, and a DJ Lord. What Cypress Hill does better than most is balance Cali street menace with mass appeal. Their opener, “Cock the Hammer,” still snarled with punk attitude. Once they launched into “Stoned Is the Way of the Walk”, the crowd responded instantly. Smoke poured from the crowd and beyond, and Cypress Hill used it like a signal flare. B-Real pulled out a joint, lit it, and continued to spit through the next three songs, trading bars with Sen Dog, and periodically taking a puff. He smoked from “Roll It Up Again” to “Illusions”, and then he lit another. It was “Insane in the Brain” that truly blew the top off the stage. The beat dropped, the crowd surged, and every syllable was shouted back with ferocity. And when they hit the crowd with “(Rock) Superstar,” fists flew in the air, the crowd screamed, and Cypress Hill proved their music, 30 years deep, still feels defiant, alive, and necessary.
Dank Daze wasn’t about nostalgia, though there was plenty of it. There were no gimmicks. Just four acts who’ve put in the time, refined their craft, and earned their place in the pantheon and in front of the crowd. Dank Daze of Summer 2025 didn’t just celebrate hip-hop history. It reminded us that this culture, like its creators, only gets stronger with time.
