Wednesday, December 12, 11:30 p.m.
In the whole, the hip-hop experience one has in Vegas is probably very watered-down when compared to that of our tourists’ hometowns. My best guess is that it’s because in a high-profile tourist city, hip-hop is just one of many niches a club could cater to. But why cater to a niche awhen you can please the masses? That “we can be everything to everyone” mentality has largely given rise to clubs embracing the mash-ups movement. In most cases, hip-hop is added to a base of rock and pop and is heavily stirred in until you find Timbaland just barely audible over OneRepublic in his very restrained remix of “Apologize.” It’s not wrong; it’s the mainstream-lining of hip-hop and rap.
But what if you just wanna hear some Timbaland?!
Poetry and Icehouse Lounge play your sound, as do sundry small weekly parties, one-offs and local bars like Tequila Cantina. The newcomer for 2008 is Spin Nightclub at the Alexis Park Resort. Headed up by director of marketing, promotions and advertising DJ Masterweb (formerly of OPM) and Alexis Park GM Adam Arzoomanian, Spin offers itself as an upscale hip-hop venue. Though the club won’t officially grand-open until Saturday, December 29, with Gorilla Zoe, Flo Rida, Rick Ross, Q45 and BET’s DJ Mad Linx, Spin was apparently so necessary on the scene that they have launched their Wednesday industry night even before the club’s opening!
Just off the Alexis Park lobby, Spin is, I am told, the fourth nightclub to occupy this venue, which looks rather like a banquet space. But what Spin lacks in décor is made up for in sheer volume—both of bodies and decibels.
Velvet ropes guide guests down for easy check-in. Well, they should, anyway. But no one wants to be seen on line when the action is inside on the dance floor. Masterweb and operations manager Victoria Goss have their hands full with a huge crowd, only just under control. True to his word, Masterweb is enforcing a strict dress code even in these pre-opening days, though the ladies made the best efforts. (Gents, no one cares if it’s your “dress” sweat suit.) Security is tight, with pat-downs and bag checks. With the exception of the odd drunk chick, security has everything in hand.
Inside, the noise is startling. Speaker stacks are almost as plentiful as the VIP booths and tables, of which there are nine, all arranged around the parquet dance floor beneath a twirling disco ball. I look longingly at the olives in my dirty martini (plastic cup ...) and wish the ay were ear plugs.
“Are Californians in this bitch, man? Are Las Vegans in this bitch, man?” DJ Dre Dae takes roll call from under the heavy black light. A liberal amount of CDs have been distributed as well, “mix tapes” (despite their CD format) featuring residents Dre Dae and Big Dee for www.SpinRealHipHop.com.
To the left of the main room, the lounge is an equally sensory experience. More speakers flank a tiny, carpeted dance area like a living room with the requisite sofa seating. There’s no shortage of staff on hand to pick up a discarded cup, wayward lemon wedge or contraband cigarette butt. “There’s no smokin’ in the club, y’all!” the DJ calls over Lil Mama’s “Lip Gloss.” Smokers are hustled out the back door to a patio. I don’t worry about the smokers missing anything; you can probably still hear the music in Henderson.
By 12:30 there’s simply no more room. Masterweb will later confirm that 2,000 people showed up for a club that can only hold 1,000 at any one time. Those who didn’t make it in won’t have to wait long. With Wednesdays already underway, Fridays and Saturdays will commence next week on the 28th, with a soft opening. One hip-hop aficionado tells it like this: The difference between old school (hip-hop venues) and new school is theory. What Poetry does to attract an upscale clientele with a beautiful venue, Spin aims to do with attentive staff and the purity of their hip-hop experience. “No one here’s gonna care about a mural, but they will leave over bad music.” I guess we can all get along.
Xania Woodman thinks globally and parties locally. And frequently. E-mail her at [email protected] and visit thecircuitlv.com to sign up for Xania’s free weekly newsletter.