Wu-Tang Clan already breezed through over 25 cities in North America as part of their N.Y. State of Mind Tour last year, but this time around, they're co-headlining with one of the most lauded rappers of all time. Fellow East Coast OG Nas is a proud Brooklynite, having been raised in Crown Heights as the son of jazz musician Olu Dara, and later broke out of his loyal neighbourhood to confirm his spot on the Mount Rushmore of rap.

Real name Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, his celebrated 1994 debut album, Illmatic is considered to be one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. Embarking on European and UK dates this time around, Wu-Tang Clan and Nas curated a mammoth, three-hour set that encompassed all their greatest hits and paid homage to the founding fathers of hip-hop.

Nas at 3Arena on June 9th, 2023. Copyright Tina Ackermann/ hotpress.com

The world tour has already seen them stop in Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris, ahead of dates in Glasgow and London before they return to Canada and North America. Back in Dublin, Wu-Tang Clan kicked off proceedings to a packed out venue, with the standing section looking particularly exhilarated as they patiently waited for the legendary group to emerge. 15 minutes after the scheduled start time (hip-hop stars rarely appear on time, as is their right), the lights went down, and the DJs and MCs ascended to the 3Arena stage.

The hip-hop legends performed for a mixed-age crowd that spanned from young millennials to over 40s, who likely remember buying Leaders of the New School’s first album back in 1991. Wu-Tang Clan spokesman RZA introduced the show after a record-scratching exhibition by DJ Scratch, explaining that the Bronx inspired their tour as the birthplace of hip-hop.

Wu-Tang Clan's energy levels in Dublin appeared to be at an all-time high, refusing to let the crowd take a breath for the full career-spanning set and spraying champagne ecstatically whenever they could. Thankfully Hot Press bagged a seat just above the crowd, which gave us a bird's eye view of plastic cups of lager being thrown around at the explosive beats kicking off with each track. 'W' hand signals were in the air throughout, dedicated fans copying each Clan member's trademark gestures like a mirror.

If you assumed WTC and Nas were bored of performing their back catalogue hits over the last 30-years, think again. Friday night felt as though the giants of the genre were debuting fresh songs from an upcoming record, rather than revisiting highlights of the era. Paying tribute to some of the late NYC heroes (Biggie Smalls) and contemporary legends who still walk among us, Nas' old beef partner Jay-Z and Nas' previous supporting/co-headline act Busta Rhymes included, the history of New York itself was on show via the incredible visuals blaring throughout the arena in between sets.

Wu-Tang Clan at 3Arena on June 9th, 2023. Copyright Tina Ackermann/ hotpress.com

Instantly iconic skyline views and clips of the city’s grimy subway stations flicker throughout the N.Y. State of Mind tour, as the rappers shout out their hometown after nearly every track - proudly remembering where the music came from. Of course, hip-hop nostalgia fondly hails the art of sampling, as J Dilla's iconic Donuts album emphasised and now Beyonce's 2022 hit Renaissance. On their global outing, Wu-Tang Clan sample Chuck Berry and later The Beatles' 'Come Together', as covered by Tina and Ike Turner. Celebrating 50 years of hip-hop in 2023, the rappers are clearly experts in the sonic annals and melody archives.

Nas performs classics from Illmatic – his debut that turns 30 next year – with enough dynamism to convince the audience that the lyrics were penned only yesterday. The audience are enraptured, never looking away from his pacing for a second as he continues his impeccable flow. Wu-Tang Clan have an alternate approach to the show, hyping up the fans with powerful shouts of "Wu-Tang Forever!" in between each rapper's turn, hugging after each member's time in the spotlight. They remember Ol' Dirty Bastard, asking the crowd to scream "ODB FOREVER", which they gleefully oblige. 'Got Your Money' and 'Triumph' erupt around the arena; two classics of the ODG catalogue.

Nas at 3Arena on June 9th, 2023. Copyright Tina Ackermann/ hotpress.com

Starting off their first set with Nancy Sinatra cover 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)', 'Clan in da Front', 'Liquid Swords', 'For Heaven's Sake', Raekwon's 'Incarcerated Scarfaces', 'Bring da Ruckus', 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin'' and 'Tearz', Nas had a tough act to follow. Later came Raekwon outings 'Criminology', 'Ice Cream' before Coppadonna's ''97 Mentality', 'Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing ta F' Wit', 'Can It Be All So Simple', 'Protect Ya Neck and 'C.R.E.A.M.', among other hits.

Nas' performances brought more intensity and melancholy in parts, highlighting his genius storytelling and narrative abilities - arguably the reason for his continued respect in the game. Tracks from 2020's King's Disease, 2021's King's Disease II and this year's King's Disease III were brimming with hard-hitting beats, expertly spinned by the MCs behind the visual blocks on stage, with the bassline creating a vibration around the building.

Wu-Tang Clan at 3Arena on June 9th, 2023. Copyright Tina Ackermann/ hotpress.com

The relay-race aspect of the show allowed the audience to get their fill from both ferocious acts without feeling like any one rapper upstaged the other. Wu-Tang opened the show for Nas, later concluding the show alongside their friend and confidant after Raekwon and Ghostface injected songs from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Nas and the group members are all nearing 50 years of age, and were raised in the infancy of hip-hop itself. Their mutual respect for each other and adoration for the genre's scrappy underdog nature and unifying qualities was beautiful to behold, as was their competitive flair amongst each other to assert domination - a trait which levitated the stars to the top of the game in the 1990s. Nas' 1991 cocky, diss-filled breakout hit 'Live at the BBQ' came when he was only 18 years old, after all.

The impact both Nas and Wu-Tang Clan have had on present-day rap, pop culture and social history can never be denied. As Nas, the unofficial 11th member of Wu-Tang Clan, declares passionately: "Hip-hop will never die, because it's in our hearts, in our souls, and in our minds". The N.Y. State of Mind has firmly hypnotised Dublin.