[RH Photos] AAHH! FEST 2014 Recap
Photos by AngieStar Photo
Anyone who was at Common's AAHH! FEST experienced an amazing show yesterday at Union Park in Chicago, some even described it as epic. As many guessed, Kanye West performed as the Special Guest, highlighting the evening by performing smash hit after hit, and bringing the night to an energetic close. Outside of Kanye's smash performance, famous comedian Dave Chappelle graced the stage as the evenings host, providing a short stand up that was just as hilarious as expected. Of course, Common didn't miss a beat with his performance either, performing many of his old and new tracks. He even brought fellow rapper Vince Staples to stage to perform "Kingdom" from his latest album, Nobody's Smiling. I can't forget to mention he also performed hit track, "Get em High" with Kanye, exploding the energy of the crowd.
Outside of the headlining performers, the fest had a full line up of sets from varied artists including comedian Damon Williams, and musicians Jay Electronica, MC Lyte, Lil Mama, Lil Herb, De La Soul, Jennifer Hudson, Lupe Fiasco, Twista, and Crucial Conflict. Although not all the artists were from Chicago, the night was to definitely highlight the city's heavy musical influence, and included several interludes of local Dj's playing House classics that kept the crowd moving from start to end. On that note, Chicago's famously known Harold's Chicken even had a food truck on hand, which is always a plus to locals.
As the event was curated by Rhymefest, Aahh! Fest's deepest intention was to create a day of peace for Chicago, since the city is very widely known for it's crime and gang violence. With this, the event was put together with help from Donda's House, Inc., Common Ground Foundation, and Lupe Fiasco's Foundation. The vibe was indeed truly fun and peaceful in all aspects, bringing to attendance Chicago Bulls Center Joakim Noah, visual artist Hebru Brantly, members from the Farrakhan family, and many other artists including rappers GLC, Do Or Die. Amongst the crowd were even friends and family like JHud's adorable son and husband, Kim Kardashian, and much more.
Check out the following photos from the very live event, where you'll also find some behind-the-scenes photos from some of the more famously known attendees enjoying the Aahh! Fest 2014.
[Video] Katie Couric Interviews Lupe Fiasco
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Celebrity ambassador and hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco’s new single, “Mission,” off of his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth, is coming out with the intention of empowering those struggling with cancer and paying tribute to those who have passed from it. The first minute and a half of the track consists of cancer survivors sharing their story, but the crux of the song is personal, pertaining to Lupe’s experience losing his grandmother to breast cancer.
Lupe’s interview with Katie Couric concerning “Mission” starts off on a distinct note, with Katie addressing Lupe’s statement pertaining to Obama being “the biggest terrorist” he recognizes in his fight against terrorism. The repercussions of this statement have resulted in Lupe being blackballed, losing friends and board members of the Lupe Fiasco Foundation, and various sponsorships. Questioning America’s first black president in the public eye ignited a slingshot effect right back at Lupe, in which many questioned not only his loyalty to his own race, but his overall role as a celebrity ambassador.
Hashing out political views with Katie segues into deeper discussion on Lupe’s reputation as a “pioneer of the conscious hip-hop movement,” ultimately bringing the spotlight on source material that transcends identity, race, political ideals, and religion: the issue of disease. Lupe’s focus on cancer aims not only to cope with his personal loss, but also to bring attention to the illness and highlight a sense of strength that evolves through adversity.
Lupe’s currently working on a remix of “Mission” called “Re-Mission,” which will include many more voices and testimonials. This remix includes Katie Couric herself contributing her story of losing both her husband and sister to the disease. While Lupe continues to be vocal about controversial subject matter and issues that hit close to home, he proceeds to move forward as a social figure despite any heated noise that may surround him.
Check out the interview with Katie Couric and Lupe Fiasco above and listen to "Mission" below.
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[Songs of the Day] 3/4/14 (Feat. De La Soul, L'Orange, Lupe Fiasco & More)
Tuesday gave us plenty of ammo for today's Songs of the Day and we got them all wrapped up and ready to go for you. Big K.R.I.T. goes back to back with new releases, this time dropping a new freestyle via XXL titled "Conscious" while De La Soul, fresh off the heels of breaking open their music vaults for free a few weeks ago, released their latest ode to Dilla with their new track "Dilla Plugged In" which features production from the legendary Detroit producer. L'Orange impressed with a new track featuring veteran MC Blu in "Need You". Dance duo Chromeo continued to tease their upcoming album White Women with a new track in "Jealous ( I Ain't With It)". Also preparing listeners for a new project was the duo of The Alchemist & Budgie who dropped "In Heaven's Home" with Roc Marciano & ProdigyLupe Fiasco linked with Ab-Soul for "Thorns and Horns" while Phoenix got a remix of their track "SOS In Bel-Air" from Ariel Pink and Sharon Van Etten debuted "Taking Chances". Check it all out below!
Track of the Day: Lupe Fiasco & Ab-Soul: "Thorns & Horns"
Big K.R.I.T.: "Conscious Freestyle"
De La Soul: "Dilla Plugged In"
L'Orange: "Need You" (Feat. Blu)
Chromeo: "Jealous (I Ain't With It)"
The Alchemist & Budgie: "In Heaven's Home" (Feat. Prodigy & Roc Marciano)
Lupe Fiasco & Ab-Soul: "Thorns & Horns"
Phoenix: "SOS in Bel-Air" (Ariel Pink's Krystal Bamboo Remix)
Sharon Van Etten: "Taking Chances"
[Video] Common Talks Chance The Rapper with Vibe
The vast majority may associate Kanye West with the top rapper to come from the Windy City, but to real hip-hop fans, there's few artists above Common in terms of Chicago rap legends. The soulful, poetic artist laid the groundwork for an entire generation of artists from his hometown to pursue different sounds and aesthetics within their records. As Chance The Rapper has ascended to hip-hop royalty over the past year, we have heard little from the upper-echelon of Chicago hip-hop on the young artist responsible for Acid Rap. Twista hopped on the project, spitting a verse on "Cocoa Butter Kisses" and Lupe shouted him out at the end of a recent song, but nothing has been heard from Yeezy, and very little from Common on Chano until today, when Common sat down with Vibe to discuss Chicago's newest star.
Common remarks at Chance's ability to have as much fun as he wants with his music, citing his varying vocal patterns, rhyme schemes and voices that make up the sort of R&B/Hip-hop aesthetic that has become Chance's calling card as of late. The Chicago legend also expresses his belief that Chance has a very bright future ahead of him. That's verification. Check out the full interview, streaming below.
[Vibe]
[Video] Lupe Fiasco: "Old School Love" (Feat. Ed Sheeran)
Lupe Fiasco has become one of the more polarizing figures in hip-hop today. At once inspiring and hard to understand, the Chicago MC has made a name for himself as a highly-conscious, progressive artist since releasing Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor in 2006. A bristling run through the label game, Fiasco has lately been found launching assaults on Twitter, walking off festival stages and generally bad-mouthing the president when available. For all that has made Lupe harder to appeal to a more mainstream crowd, it still is refreshing to see him reclaim the voice that launched him to the top during the last wave of artists to emerge from Chicago in Kanye's wake. In "Old School Love" Lupe glosses on life growing up in Chicago before people from outside it regularly chanted "Chiraq" and the murder stats weren't the main number Chicago was known for. Ed Sheeran does his thing in adding the pathos the song needs to full transcend from a typical memory lane track. The song is off Lupe's upcoming Tetsuo & Youth EP, due out in early 2014.
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Lupe Fiasco: "Old School Love" (feat. Ed Sheeran)
Fresh off giving a quick shout-out to Chicago's most popular artists at the moment, Lupe Fiasco returns with a Ed Sheeran-assisted single. The local emcee has just announced a national tour and "Old School Love" serves as a way to promote the show dates (which can been seen here) and also his upcoming album Tetsuo And Youth. Lupe had only released freestyles over popular beats recently, so it's very refreshing to hear him rap on an original record.
https://soundcloud.com/atlanticrecords/lupe-fiasco-old-school-love-ft
Lupe Fiasco: "Pound of Flesh/Paris Tokyo 2"
If you've been following the site lately then you may have noticed my growing disdain for Lupe Fiasco. His actions on Twitter and general sidelines view of the hip hop game has pushed me away from the Food & Liquor artist in a hurry. As of late, Lupe has offered his own versions of other artists tracks ala Lil Wayne No Ceilings or Dedication without the forethought. This time, Drake's "Pound of Cake/Pars Morton Music 2". It's another Lupe track for the most part, until Fiasco does a roll call of who's who in Chicago, ala Kendrick Lamar and "Control". At the end of the track he recites: "Everyone in Bull City eating like a pig, let's do it: Durk, Mouse, Paris, Keef, Boolu, Dub, Pharris, Drama, Common, Flict, Ye, Chance; Illinois, Lupe
Lupe Fiasco: "Piece of Paper Cup of Jayzus"
It seems as though Lupe is permanently resigned to staying on the sidelines, throwing occasional potshots at the game at large. He's not Papoose by any means, too lyrical and talented for all that, but by allowing others to dictate what he does, Fiasco is quickly making that his lane. On "Piece of Paper of Jayzus," the name itself an obvious toss at Jay-z and Kanye West, who gave him the spotlight in the first place. Fiasco basically goes in for a full seven minutes of telling listeners how he's different, even spending more than a handful of bars simply talking about Earl Sweatshirt and Odd Future. To explain further, allow me to take a page out of Louis C.K.'s book: Of course Lupe is one of the best lyricists of our time, but maybe he needs to stop arguing with women on Twitter and climbing mountains and just make music. This was . . . something. It's understood that hip-hop is a restaurant with many dishes, Lupe just hasn't been serving to my liking lately. When he first came out, it was obvious what set Lupe apart, but now it seems as though he's trying to tell us what that is instead of doing it and PPCJ just reinforces that sentiment. Let me know if you agree, listen below!
Interesting line: Told Jean, Foxy, & Rah the greatest rapper's a girl/They said the greatest rapper's a guy