What happens when you mix Ottawa’s strict no-smoking bylaws with an invasion of Canadian music industry types? In at least one case, it was trouble.

Toronto hip hopper/reggae artist Snow showed up at Zaphod Beeblebrox at about 2 a.m. yesterday with a group of leather-clad, Gucci-sunglasses-wearing Missississaugans. They headed straight for the dance floor, and everything was going well until the DJ noticed the smallest member of Snow’s posse was smoking.

‘Security to the DJ booth,’ he called out over the PA.

Snow, whose Two Hands Clapping was nominated for best reggae recording, graciously mugged for photos with anyone who asked.

‘I’d like to remind everyone that smoking is prohibited in the bar,’ the DJ piped up about a minute later. ‘I don’t care if your name is Snow.’

Snow, born Darrin O’Brien and raised in the mean streets of North York, flipped.

‘I don’t smoke, man,’ he screamed as he went after the DJ. ‘I’m not even smoking. Do you see me smoking?’ A 40-something member of Snow’s posse was forced to restrain him.

Half an hour later it was all peace and love as Snow had calmed down enough to sit down with Zaphod owner Eugene Haslam.