By Tyler Bunzey
March 12, 2022
Carolina Performing Arts announced an exciting new hip-hop festival coming to the Triangle in April. The Hip Hop South Festival boasts an impressive lineup of hip-hop heavyweights over the course of two days (April 22-23) performing at iconic venues like Cat’s Cradle and historic Memorial Hall.
On Friday night, attendees will be treated to a performance from 2020 BET Lyricist of the Year and North Carolina native, Rapsody. On Saturday, Sa-Roc, a well-respected emcee who’s collaborated with the likes of Black Thought and Styles P, will open up for Big Boi, half of the iconic multi-platinum selling duo, Outkast. For a Saturday nightcap, participants will hear a beat battle hosted by North Carolina hip-hop production group The Soul Council, led by 9th Wonder. In addition to producing for some of the biggest names in the industry, 9th has taught at Harvard, Duke, and Roc Nation’s School of Music, and is also a member of hip-hop/jazz supergroup, Dinner Party, who released their debut album in 2020. In addition, the festival will feature Durham’s multi-talented Shirlette Ammons, and hip-hop collectives Carolina Waves and Radio Rehab.
The Hip-Hop South Festival is co-curated by two critically acclaimed hip-hop educators. Dasan Ahanu is a multi-hyphenate creative and educator who has collaborated on hip-hop festivals like Durham’s Art of Cool festival and Beats n Bars. Ahanu is joined by Dr. Regina N. Bradley, an associate professor of English and African Diaspora Studies at Kennesaw State University. Dr. Bradley is one of the foremost authorities on Southern hip-hop and is best-known for her podcast, Bottom of the Map, and trailblazing book, Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip-Hop South.
“The Hip Hop South Festival creates space for deeper exploration and appreciation of hip hop’s geographical influence by focusing on the development and impact of the culture across the South,” said Ahanu in the press release.
The festival will also highlight the significance of its eminent Southern artists with an exhibit open to the public, curated by Dr. Bradley at the CURRENT Artspace on Friday and Saturday night. The exhibit, entitled Dirty South Scribes, will showcase Southern writers whose groundbreaking works helped put the serially underappreciated Southern hip-hop scene on the map.
Leading up to the weekend, Hip Hop South Festival will also host a virtual event with Jason Mayden, a former Jordan Brand exec who is now the President of Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear of God Athletics. Mayden will be the featured speaker for a live stream discussion on hip-hop’s sneaker culture, Kicks & Colorways: A Conversation About Sneaker Culture and Sneaker Design, on Wednesday, April 20.
The festival will be a welcome showcase of hip-hop artists and organizations from the region who have continually challenged and redefined the status quo.
Hip Hop South Festival will take place April 22-23 in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Learn more from the Carolina Performing Arts website.
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