Here’s a little story that must be told/
‘Bout a Midwest party with jams ice-cold/
In its fourth year running, the hype is loud/
With a stacked cast rapping to make Slug proud/
Got some head-knockin’ rhythms at the end of May/
Hand the mic to Kris Kross, watch ‘em take it away/
Wiggidy-wiggidy-wiggidy-WACK/
Wiggidy-wiggidy-wiggidy-WACK/
Wiggidy-wiggidy-wiggidy-WACK/
Wiggidy-wiggidy-wiggidy-WACK
Phew! It’s lucky Mack Daddy and Daddy Mack stepped in just then, because I was pretty much out of material. You try rapping about “Shakopee, Minnesota.” See what happens to your natural flow.
Soundset Festival 2011 is upon us, or will be on May 29, when a lineup of over 40 hip-hop artists — chosen by Rhymesayers Entertainment and Rose Presents — do their thing on two stages for nine straight hours in Canterbury Park, idyllic weather or not. Last year, over 18,000 people showed up for Soundset, and this year is predicted to be even bigger, considering the lineup. And how about that lineup! Big Boi, De La Soul, Edan, Atmosphere, Curren$y, Slaughterhouse, Blueprint, Doomtree — I’d say there’s likely to be 18,001 attendees this time around, and that’s just a lowball figure!
Now, if you’re one of those folks that goes to festivals but has no interest in paying attention to even a single act (hello everyone I’ve ever stood next to at a festival), Soundset has a bunch of other activities to wet your whistle/whet your appetite/wilt your spinach leaves. MC battle tents, custom car show, live painting exhibit, skateboard demo area… the only thing missing, really, is that ride where they spin you around in a room and the floor drops under your feet and you feel sick. Check the full lineup below, and keep your mouse hovered over this link until 11:00 AM on April 1, when tickets go on sale like magic. General admission is $38 (including parking), and VIP admission is $90, which will make you extremely important in the eyes of all the performers.
Full lineup:
Atmosphere, Big Boi, De La Soul, Slaughterhouse (Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Royce da 5’9”, Crooked I), Brother Ali, Doomtree (P.O.S, Dessa, Sims, Cecil Otter, Mike Mictlan, Lazerbeak, Papertiger), Evidence x Rakaa-Iriscience x DJ Babu, Mac Miller, Curren$y, Blueprint, Grieves & Budo, Zion I & The Grouch, Sab The Artist, DJ Abilities, Face Candy, Edan with special guest Paten Locke, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Looptroop Rockers, Rubberoom, Soulcrate Music, 2Mex, Mr. Gene Poole, Qwazaar, Longshot, Mally, Desdamona, Duenday, Midwest Konnect, Rocky Diamonds, Stage One, Shortkut, Noam The Drummer, Exile, Maseo, Skeme Richards, Kid Cut Up and Espada. Hosted by Toki Wright, Carnage and Kevin Beacham.
• Soundset: http://www.soundsetfestival.com
• Rhymesayers: http://www.rhymesayers.com
