All Gas, No Smoke Car Meet and Concert was held on April 20, 2024, at the Bayou City Event Center in South Houston. We were expecting rain all day, but instead, it was just fully cloudy. The “Holidaze” felt like California came to visit Houston, from the weather to the aroma in the air, to the musical guest that graced our city. Now, don’t get it twisted; the Houston Culture was not missing at all! Old School’s, 84’s, and Gas Gods all Hosted by Slim Thug and LE$ was one of the liveliest 420 Events to hit the H. I am not surprised because Gas Gods always creates the ultimate destination for those seeking unforgettable events that cater to cannabis connoisseurs. From private dinners with special guests, elevated concerts, to car meet-ups, Gas Gods goes above and beyond to ensure that each event is unique, exciting, and full of surprises that keep guests on their toes and their brains on a high. Gas Gods‘ events are not just gatherings, they are unforgettable moments that create marks on the Houston Cannabis Culture. All Gas No Smoke felt like an elevated cookout for the culture. The energy started with the Car Meet-Up. There were sleek lines and powerful engines of exotic cars and classic designs and attention to detail in the old school cars. Restoring and customizing old school cars is a huge part of Houston’s tapestry, and witnessing it at the car meet felt like a car museum where you couldn’t deny the uniqueness. The craftsmanship and artistry that goes into creating exotic cars are truly impressive. Candy paint was definitely dripping in the parking lot. Not only old and new, but Monster Trucks were also present. I am five feet and seven inches, and I never thought I would stand eye to eye with a tire. It was definitely a safe haven for car enthusiasts to get great content for their social media platforms.
Now let’s talk about the elevating flower provided by Gas Gods. It was phenomenal. They provided strains that kept the audience on an amazing first-class flight all day. They released a new Drumstick product that puts any regular preroll to shame and kept all who consumed on cloud 99. To pair with the smoke, they chose the perfect sound curator: Virginia native, Houston-based DJ Mookie Copeland, who kept the crowd vibing at a high altitude. Mookie Copeland played all the greats for the “Holidaze”. He took us from Devin the Dude, Colie Buddz, Wiz Khalifa, to Snoop Dogg – he kept us lifted in spirit.
The special touch to this event is that it was also kid-friendly. Yes, there was a whole children’s zone. Now for some individuals, they might think a 420 friendly event is no place for a child, but I think as a parent, hemp is definitely safer than being present around alcohol and cigarettes. There is no such thing as medicinal alcohol and secondhand cigarette smoke has been proven to be toxic. The children’s zone was away from the car meet-up, and no smoking was in the children’s zone. There was a moon bounce and obstacle course to keep the kids entertained. Though my children weren’t present to enjoy the activities, I would’ve appreciated it. The food vendor’s presence made it all the more a cook-out. Somebody’s uncle was definitely on the pit, and the barbecue smoke gave Texas vibes throughout the whole event. There was also a food truck with Creole-style food choices that screamed “You’re in the South”.
I felt truly uplifted leaving this event. Gas Gods and Slim Thug put on a great cookout, car meet-up, and concert for the city of Houston. If traveling is not on your agenda for next year on April 20th, you can definitely trust Gas Gods to bring the vibes to a venue near you.
Now that the scene was set, the entertainment was ready to take the stage. The first artist was Syn. He came on stage in his way. He made sure to pay homage to all the fallen soldiers that came from the land of Screw! It is always beautiful to see artists give their respect for the artists that came before them. The next artist up to the mic was Jon S. He gave his melodic flows right before the featured artist. After the opening act, the crowd was ready! The host created a chant to bring the crowd to the perfect boiling point. She said, “When I say ‘La’ y’all say Russell!” She screamed “La”, the crowd responded “Russell”. One by one, band members started emerging onto the stage. His violinist started playing on a beat the DJ was playing with the pianist. The violinist Michael Prince hails from Houston and is known internationally for his exceptional approach to a trap beat with such a classical instrument. I am so proud to see a melanated man pick up a stringed instrument, do it his way, and do it well!! LaRussell brought the Bay to the H, and we loved every minute of it. He exuded intelligence bar for bar, inspired the audience with every lyric he spit, all while making the crowd bop to instrumentals that were irresistible. This was not your typical rap show. There are no words on his tracks to be a crutch if he missed a lyric. If he did not say a lyric, the crowd knew every word and was ready for him to pass the mic. Speaking of passing the mic, LaRussell not only shines but he creates the feeling of a cypher and has a moment where he passes the mic to let other people freestyle on his beat. Leading up to the cypher, he expressed his gratitude on stage, did one song on the platform then proceeded to walk around the audience. He was similar to the nucleus as the crowd followed his motion around the floor. He changed the definition of the stage every time he made a move. LaRussell, in the middle of his third track, says “Who can Rap?”. That question in the “purple city” is truly rhetorical. Houstonians come out of the womb freestyling. There was no hesitation for any of the volunteers that hopped on the mic.
It was dynamic, it was spiritual, and it was what hip-hop needs right now in this “Diss Culture” that has taken over. LaRussell is the balance, honesty, storytelling, integrity, and inspiration we thirst for in our culture. His authenticity burst through his lyrics and his aura.
