You might think the age of the hip hop duo is dead, what with the influx of massive crews like Odd Future and the A$AP Mob, but the staying power of Method Man, 42, and Redman, 43, lives on.

On October 20, the two legendary emcees took the stage at the Exchange Event Centre (formerly Republic, sans much of its tacky decor and weak sound system) for their first show in Winnipeg since a performance at Blush Ultraclub way back in August, 2008.

As it quickly became apparent by the palpable energy in the room, five years is a long time to wait for another Funk Doc and Tical show. Even before the duo appeared in front of the 300 plus attendees, Wu-Tang t-shirt-adorned fans, male and female, young and old, buzzed with excitement. The anticipation was almost too hot to handle. As obligatory warm-up DJs spun the typical hits, the commotion and frenzy became an unstoppable infection – a storm before an even bigger (and more badass) storm, if you will.

If you’ve ever seen these two perform live, you know what I’m getting at. Meth and Red aren’t your average ‘rappers’, showing up at 1:30 am to deliver a half-hour set of unenthused verses. Reggie Noble and Johnny Blaze (yes, these men have many pseudonyms) are emcees, masters of ceremony, true entertainers. When they roll through your town, believe you’ll get your money’s worth... and sharing a blunt with guys and gals in the front row is just the beginning.

Shortly after midnight, the crowd’s anticipation and electric fervor had almost reached an apex. Finally, it seemed, hip hop’s most energetic pair was ready to give Winnipeg a show. Then, at a quarter to 1 am, the two-man team left the locker room, bursting into the arena with the relentless momentum of a freight train. Hand’s were raised high, W’s thrust firmly into the air; it was time to rock the spot.

What followed was over an hour of raw, uncut, heavy-mental hip hop reminiscent of, though I cannot pretend to know from experience, a New York block party in the times of yore. The club was fully packed. Liquor flowed. Joints were freshly lit. The mood, too, was overwhelmingly positive. As kick drums and sub bass cut through the thick fog blanketing the room, I looked on in amazement at the panoramic view of positivity surrounding me.

With such diverse catalogues of solo and group music – Method Man is a member of the Wu-Tang Clan and Redman a part of the Def Squad trio including Erick Sermon and Keith Murray – the duo’s setlist was varied and featured tracks familiar to hardcore hip hop heads and casual listeners alike. Bombing renditions of “1, 2, 1, 2” off the pair’s first LP Blackout!, prompting the audience to finger salute while hollering “Fuck you Redman!”, along with classics such as “Cisco Kid” and “Y.O.U.” were standouts. Wu affiliate Streetlife was there, too. He joined in on some throwbacks including Method’s “All I Need”, originally recorded in 1994 for his debut LP Tical, and added some topical hype when necessary.

There was even an occasional hint at a sequel to Meth and Red’s 2001 comedy, How High, a notion the entire room seemed to cheer on in delight. I certainly joined them.

For all in attendance, Method Man and Redman captivated and charmed a particularly enthusiastic crowd. It was a hip hop show as one ought to be: cheerful, festive and underscored by a mutual respect and adoration exchanged between the artists and audience. It was a force that, by the end of the show, brought Method Man to tears.

Maybe the era of the hip hop duo isn’t dead, after all.