Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and De La Soul bring 90s hip hop scene to Nashville. Here are the top moments.

Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and De La Soul took to the stage at Bridgestone Arena on Sept. 20 to kick off the American leg of their "N.Y. State of Mind Tour." The night transported the crowd of Nashvillians all the way to Staten Island, New York for an evening of invigorating 90s hip-hop.

The performance was full of dynamic collaboration, surprise guests and a whole lot of love. "You're here because of your love for hip-hop and that's it—no extra s***, just pure love of music. That's why I still make music, that's why Wu-Tang is still making music," declared rapper Nas, known for his East Coast hip-hop and songs "N.Y. State of Mind" and "If I Ruled the World."

Wu-Tang Clan, a hip-hop collective formed in Staten Island in 1992, is notorious for its hits "Protect ya Neck" and "C.R.E.A.M." The group includes members RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, Cappadonna and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, until his death in 2004 from an accidental drug overdose.

Wu-Tang finished the European and U.K. leg of their tour in June, performing in Nashville for their first show back in the U.S. The concert brought the Big Apple down to Nashville in all of its color and glory—but, it also brought confusion and chaos. And just like the big city, many audience members seemingly couldn't keep up.

The show began with DJ Scratch, who warmed up the crowd by playing hits like "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and "Get Money." The opener, De La Soul, did not precede Wu-Tang Clan as the crowd expected; Wu-Tang took the stage a little before 9 p.m.

The night began with an introduction of the different members of the Wu-Tang Clan, starting with RZA. Each strutted on stage, met with cheers from fans while they performed a couple verses. Over the stage was a screen with a subway sign, "Queensbridge-21 Street Station," a stop off the F-train.

Then, the concert moved into a portion of the night with Nas, Wu-Tang's co-headliner. He took to the stage in jeans and a red windbreaker, starting off his portion with "Hate Me Now."

After Nas's set, Wu-Tang Clan members came back onstage to perform their biggest hits, and mid-way through the night, they left the stage. As crew members changed the stage's set, the audience sat for minutes, watching a screen play old karate films. Then, opener De La Soul came on and played their set. Many audience members, confused by the mid-show opener, filed out and left the arena significantly emptier for the remainder of the evening.

Then, Nas came on for a second set, and after Wu-Tang returned to finish out the show, completing an over 43-song night.

Here are some top moments from the evening's performances.

Young Dirty Bastard continues his Father's Legacy

Following Ol' Dirty Bastard's death, many fans wondered what would happen to his verses and how the group would work to fill the void he left behind. It turns out his son Young Dirty Bastard would be just the man for the job.

Bar-Sun Unique Jones, Ol' Dirty's son, emphasized the powerful multi-generational magic of hip hop on the stage, passionately reciting his father's verses. His space with the rest of the crew was natural. Wu-Tang's RZA cited the unique timelessness of music's force, still uniting the father and son today.

Nas's Second Entrance

When Nas returned to the stage after De La Soul's set, he entered as flames played on the screens behind him. He wore a Nashville Predators Hockey Jersey with "Nas" written on the back, nodding to Bridgestone Arena's home team. Nas finished out his set in the Nashville garb, playing songs "Oochie Walley" and "30."

Method Man is Back

Fans were disappointed to learn that Method Man would not be on tour with Wu-Tang for their "N.Y. State of Mind" run, which he announced last September. In a YouTube video, Method explained that he planned on filming a movie during the time of tour.

"Albums don’t sell the way they used to, I’m pretty sure you guys know that. So in order to preserve my lifestyle and to feed my family, I had to have alternative means of doing that. And I’m glad to say at 51 years old, I have options. Not everybody can say that. Everyone cannot say that they have options," Method said in the video.

But—behold! Method Man appeared onstage in all of his glory and the crowd went wild. In leather pants, a hat, and sunglasses, Method Man rapped his trademark song "Method Man," "I got fat bags of skunk / I got White Owl blunts / And I'm about to go get lifted / Yes, I'm about to go get lifted."

Happy Birthday to Cappadonna

As the evening came to a close, members of the Wu-Tang Clan wheeled a birthday cake with candles onto the stage for Cappadonna, who turned 54 on Sept. 18. The crowd wished the rapper, actor and producer a happy birthday.

RZA then shook a bottle of champagne, shooting it into the crowd, as they finished out the evening with "Triumph" and Nas's "One Mic."

Wu-Tang Clan's Nashville Set List

Clan in da Front, Wu-Tang

Verbal Intercourse, Wu-Tang

Hate Me Now, Nas

Get Yosef a Gun, Nas

It Ain't Hard to Tell, Nas

Get Down, Nas

Fever, Nas

40-16 Building, Nas

One Love, Nas

Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park), Nas

N.Y. State of Mind, Nas

Eye for a Eye (Your Beef Is Mines), Nas, Raekwon

260, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah

Daytona 500, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Cappadonna

Ice Cream, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna

'97 Mentality, Cappadonna

Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit, Wu-Tang

Method Man, Wu-Tang

All I Need, Method Man

Shame on a N****, Wu-Tang

C.R.E.A.M, Wu-Tang

Protect Ya Neck, Wu-Tang

Oooh, De La Soul

Stakes is High, De La Soul

Get By, Talib Kweli, De La Soul

Saturdays, De La Soul

Me Myself and I, De La Soul

The Don, Nas

Hot Boyz, Nas

Oochie Wally, Nas

Nas is Like, Nas

The World Is Yours, Nas

Rare, Nas

Made You Look, Nas

30, Nas

If I Ruled the World, Nas

Come Together, RZA (Beatles' cover)

Reunited, Wu-Tang

4th Chamber, Wu-Tang

Shimmy Shimmy Ya, Young Dirty Bastard (Ol' Dirty Bastard), RZA

Got Your Money, Young Dirty Bastard (Ol' Dirty Bastard)

Triumph, Wu-Tang

One Mic, Nas

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wu-Tang Clan bring NY 90s hip hop scene to Nashville Bridgestone Arena