On Sunday May 26, 2019 thousands of festival attendees invaded the MN State Fairgrounds for the independent curated hip-hop festival known as Soundset Music Festival.
Past acts featured the likes of Lauren Hill, Gucci Mane, T.I, Lil Uzi Vert, the late Mac Miller, Jaden Smith and so many other influences within music that have transcended the sound that shapes cultures.
This years line up encompassed: Lil Wayne, G-Eazy, DMX, SZA, Beast Coast, Run The Jewels, Tech N9ne, Tierra Whack, Bas and a slew of other charting-artists that have become a staple in the industry today.
Outside of the compelling display of musical splendor exhibited on the behalf of each artists involved, the festival grounds also featured an enthralling assortment of lowriders and other classic automobiles that have been customized to reflect self-expression in the form of art. Diversity was definitely present with regard to the range of participants that represented different area codes across the region as they blasted music indicative of their hometown, occupying the ears of individuals as they walked by the captivating sound.
The car exhibit served as somewhat of a dessert on top of the already succulent main course that consisted of – The Atmosphere & Friends Stage, the St.Paul Main Stage and the Minneapolis Main Stage, housing performances throughout the day leading into the night.
Sway Calloway, yes from the famed “How Sway?” Kanye West radio rant, served as the moderator on both the St.Paul Main Stage and the Minneapolis Main Stage, being sure to maintain the same vivacity in delivering a passionate introduction between each artists set.
The day-shift acts did a remarkable job at setting the tone for a conveyed energy that amassed and inspired thousands. From Dounia’s melodic decrees of women empowerment and free-spirited enthusiasm, down to Dem Atlas’s dazzling caterwauls of ambiguity and defiance of conforming to societal pressures, both artists typified the bravado that would set the sound (no pun intended) for forthcoming performances.
Dreamville was represented in the upmost fashionable manner in having BAS captivate the attention of many with his exhilarated lyricism. Which followed with a witty, yet authoritative affirmation of Tierra Whack’s parading wordsmith ability. It’s almost like it was one-big family reunion of a conscious effort in having artists of such cognizant stature deliver a production of that degree.
To witness legendary MC’s such as Atmosphere, Prof, Tech N9ne, RTJ (Killer Mike & EI-P) and the revered DMX live in action after influencing an entire generation with their musical catalog was more than a worthwhile experience. It’s a very rare occurrence to have icons such as the above mentioned avow an unconditional love for music in such a rhapsodic manner. Their efforts ultimately served as a catalyst in galvanizing over 40,000 people.
The night-shift acts tied up all loose ends in one collective effort to end the day on a solid note.
Lil Nas X put one spectacle of a performance on such a short notice in lieu of Lil Uzi Vert’s absence and capitalized on that moment by highlighting the benefits that arise from having the horses in the back, you outwork everyone. However, the stable wasn’t empty. In fact, there was an actual baby present. DaBaby provided an impromptu performance accompanied by another Charlotte-based artist (Rich Dunk) who was sure to encourage active crowd participation above anything else.
The Bright side of the Bay’s very own G-Eazy did a tremendous job of taking calculated risk in navigating through the pyrotechnics behind his theatrical set, while performing several of his renowned singles including “No Limit”. The soulful maverick SZA followed suit with a enchanting live serenade of her famed Ctrl album while gracefully swaying from one side of the stage to another. Lil Wayne closed the show out with a preliminary “Weezy” chant from fans that echoed throughout the fairgrounds in a thunderous way, before administering a purposeful showcasing of a mere glimpse into his esteemed collection of hit records.
My favorite takeaway from the entire festival was the desire from everyone involved to ensure a good time. In layman’s terms, everyone did a profound job at maintaining integrity in whatever role they facilitated for the extent of their occupation. It takes a collective effort to preserve the culture and follow through with a progressive stance on pushing it forward. Festivals like this make the job easier and all the more rewarding.
Definitely looking forward to what the following year will bring!
Photo Credit – Derrius Edwards
