Heads that normally might not bop were bopping, most of them with big, silly grins on their faces. Maybe they were just excited to see the biggest Dogg of them all – the Snoop kind.

Intensity filled the air for the long time before Snoop Dogg took the stage about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at Otto’s Niteclub, 118 E. Lincoln Highway.

While he played beloved hits like “Gin and Juice” and “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang,” the audience was more charged than anything Otto’s has seen in a long time.

But Snoop’s set lasted only a little more than 40 minutes, and not everyone in the crowd was happy about that.

DeKalb resident Charissa Bomar was one of the people disappointed with the short set, many of whom could be heard grumbling on the packed sidewalk outside the venue after the show.

“The show was good,” she said. “It would’ve been better if he could’ve performed longer, but I think he kind of got upset because somebody threw something at him. I would’ve got upset too. I hope that he can come back.”

Bomar said she was close to the front of the crowd during the show, and saw a bottlecap hit Snoop on his forehead.

Once the incident occurred, Snoop said he would pay any witness $1,000 if he or she would reveal the offender. The person never was revealed.

But during the 40 minutes Snoop was onstage, the audience was nothing short of explosive.

One audience member, referring to Snoop’s notorious stoner reputation, was overheard remarking on the rapper’s appearance, which was, shall we say, that of a fun-loving, not-always-law-abiding rap star.

“He doesn’t open his eyes!” he said, after Snoop removed the sparkly sunglasses he donned for the beginning of the short set.

Opening with “Murder Was the Case,” so many hands were in the air that seeing the stage was a feat if you were less than six feet tall or anywhere near the stage. This continued throughout the set, which may have left some wondering if Snoop arrived late just to spark the audience.

Continuing the show with songs like “Deep Cover,” “Lodi Dodi” and “The Next Episode,” Snoop kept the energy surging in the crowd. The multi-platinum rapper also performed “Gangsta Party” and “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?”

If only he could’ve kept that going a bit longer, those in attendance might’ve felt better about the $32.50 they each shelled out for a ticket.

Before the show, smiling faces speckled the line, which stretched down the street. Those who waited long enough to be at the front of the line for the much-hyped concert thought the wait would be worth it.

Junior microbiology major Eric Foster said he’s been a fan of Snoop since the early days.

“I want to hear ‘Gin and Juice’ – anything from ‘Doggystyle,'” he said.

Standing next to him was Lauren Benard, who said she also was a fan from way back and she wouldn’t be bothered if a bit of Snoop’s usually encouraged marijuana aroma accompanied the show.

“I’m hoping so!” she said, laughing.

There was a bit of that illegal scent in the air, but not to the point one might have expected at a Snoop show.

Though DeKalb Police officers betrayed a bit of nervousness in the hours before the event – with several units observed patrolling the downtown area – Otto’s co-owner Duff Rice wasn’t worried.

“From the looks of it, it’s pretty much the same crowd we usually have,” he said.

“There’s a bigger buzz than there’s been for any other show,” Rice added. “But as far as security issues, it’s going to be the same as other shows. This is a normal Otto’s student crowd. The police aren’t worried about it – they know what’s up.”

While this wasn’t the first show at Otto’s to fill the venue’s capacity, it appealed more to the young student audience than other big acts that have appeared there.

Before the show, DeKalb resident Maritza Davila said hosting an act like Snoop was a great way to bring people together.

“It’s great,” she said. “It brings a lot of people here, it adds diversity.”angel hernandez photo

Snoop Dogg brought hands up and the house down for a short 40-minute performance at Otto’s Wednesday.