By Derrius Edwards – @rawcommnc
Hotlanta was on fire this past weekend when AfroPunk made its stop in the beautiful peach state.
This international festival is known for producing some of the most ebullient vibes that are unmatched. With an all-star lineup featuring some of musics most iconic performers, AfroPunk did not shy away from providing Atlanta with an alternative sound the South may not be accustomed to. From the Toronto vocalist Sate, down to the musical styling of United Kingdom native Scarlxrd, the cultural footprint embedded in ATL is forever more established.
787 Windsor St. SW Atlanta, GA housed this 2-day festival last weekend with the red and green stages posing as the platform for the 8 hours of on-going entertainment, featuring an array of artists, bands and DJ’s.
Day 1 festivities featured performances from Death Grips, Sango, Samurai Shotgun, Benjamin Booker, SerpentWithFeet, Rico Nasty, Yves Tumor, Gaika & more, with N.E.R.D’s last performance of this calendar year to top it all off.
For those of you that may not know, N.E.R.D is an American Alternative Hip-Hop band composed of Pharell Williams, Chad Hugo and Shae Haley.
Some of their songs include; “She Wants to Move”, “1000”, and the chart-topping record “Lemon” ft. Rihanna .
Day 1 definitely ensured full engagement and participation from all of the festivals attendees.
Day 2 lineup featured performances from The Internet, Kaytranada, Kari Faux, Van Jess, The TxLips Band, DJ Ohso and Pusha-T just to name a few.
Pusha T is both a rapper and President of G.O.O.D Music, and the other half of hip-hop duo The Clipse , featuring his brother Gene “No Malice” Thorton. Some of his songs include “Mercy” and most recently “If You Know You Know” from his serrated solo album entitled “Daytona”
One interesting dynamic about the festivals lineup is that it was packed full of industry icons and emerging talents.
One of the emerging talents to be on the lookout for is The TxLips Band.
Gabriella Logan, TxLips manager/lead guitarist, had this to say about the band’s AfroPunk experience and their project “The Queens of the New Age EP”.
“The experience was unbelievable. It was a breath of fresh air to be around so much diverse black culture. We loved every part of it. This was our third time playing, so this year we really wanted to bring something a little different from the previous years by premiering our music video for Another Tear”
“The Queens of the New Age EP is from experience. I wanted to show there is strength in music, rising above and persevering through whatever life throws at you. In that experience, you grow into the person you are truly meant to be and we, The TxLips Band, are a group of dynamic Black Women and we are thrilled to empower other women of color to follow their dreams through music.
“We loved the empowering feeling of unifying groups, especially a group of dynamic beings. We can’t wait for our next chapter with Afropunk. ”
The TxLips Band displayed a mesmerizing live set. Words cannot describe the commanding performance exhibited by this all-girl rock group. Black girl magic is definitely alive and well!
The blend of chemistry exemplified between AfroPunk staff as they transitioned from one set to the next to ensure full attentiveness did not go unrecognized.
For Day 2 I also decided to immerse myself in the DIY (Do It Yourself) culture and pay a visit to the Spinthrift Market. The Spinthrift marketplace showcased some of Atlanta’s local talent from the creative community. Featuring accessories, apparel, books, art and so much more.
Activism Row provided a platform for local grassroots and non-profit organizations to enlighten the public on issues that exist within black communities, while advocating on how people can affect change directly and indirectly.
AfroPunk’s purpose is far greater than mere entertainment. The festival promoted civil engagement and black activism in the aspects of involvement that take a progressive approach on pushing the culture forward.
Overall, I cannot go without saying the cultural consciousness of black art, wealth, knowledge and empowerment is alive and well in Atlanta, GA. The South embraced the AfroPunk experience and welcomed it with open arms and ears.
Can’t wait until next year!
