Festival Review: World Underground Festival (Artist Close-Ups)

These are only A FEW of MY FAVES! I just want to, sincerely, clarify that because this list is only an ice cube from the ice berg of talent that melted through World Underground Festival: So Enjoy These Few!

Metaphaurus

This artist has a strange, melodic flow that makes his words appear like beats rather than spoken. Yet, that is to his benefit. Flowing unto the stage to combat “negative vibes,” he amplified a recurring theme throughout many artist’s raps; getting out the bad vibes that block our higher minds.

Siimba Liives Long

With his octave-jumping brother in tow, Siimba might as well have been a walking bonfire. His energy was on 10,000, while we all stayed on 10. One of the best things about World Underground  Festival was how easily accessible artists were to the audience. They all just leaped in as if we were a human pool, and Siimba, definitely, took advantage of that access. He joined the crowd as if we were his baseline from which his words jumped.

Hannah

YAASSSSS!!!!!!!!! YASSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! YASSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! Hannah is totally gravitating towards the chiller soundscapes of Hip Hop; flowing her verses over rhythms like scarves over waters; her words leave a colorful print over her natural vibes.

Beanz

Beanz has the hunger, and I always support artists’ whose determination seeps out of their pours as if their soul sweats ambition. She spits her verses as if she stomping every hater/ nay-sayer that ever crossed her path, which is why you enliven through her sound. We all want a rapper, especially us ladies, that make us feel like if it us “Us Vs The World,” it is the world that is losing.

Oswin Benjamin

Excuse me as I try to explain the rich particularity that made me enjoy Oswin. His voice, itself, is memorable, and makes you bask in how it meets rhythm. Like Metaphaurus, there are certain rappers that it is not just what they are saying, but how they are saying their verses that enthralls you. It is as if their vocals are really bells ringing throws words, and Oswin will keep you woke.

Akay The Pharaoh

This rapper has a summoning presence; approaching the stage like “Come to me, people! I am going to free you!” He is not wrong in estimating his regalia, and brings back the Old School, 90’s Hip Hop vibe that made you want bust open a fire hydrant and dance under sun and water. This man can make apartment buildings into pyramids.

Radamiz

Este Dominicano killed it; jumping up and down the stage, with bars and stamina, like a human pogo-stick. Moreover, he divides himself as a rapper. On one hand, he can serve you rhymes like your best bud saying, “Come on! Have fun!” Yet, on the other, he can offer you weighted platters of truths. It depends on his mood, not yours, where the pendulum swings, but, with his personality, you do not mind being guided.

Flo Kennedy

If Flo Kennedy could devour the stage…… she would. She takes that stage like it owes her money, has been avoiding her for months, and she finally found that b to pay up! Seriously, there is freneticism and fervor to her dynamic that makes her spit rhymes as if music was a fever; burning her up with its possibilities and sentimental purges. Yet, when you are speaking with your intellect, it is natural for your words to appear like a fevered mind.

Et. Pat

She is a merchant of cool. While she is talented, she is so aware of what is “now” in terms of Millennial listeners. She feels both supernatural and organic; as if she is giving us the fruits of Jupiter when she rhymes, and people flocked to her marketable eccentrics. She can serve you raw bars while also looking like a fashion/ swag icon. She is Urban Outfitters meets Urban Truths. #yas

Marlon Craft

He was, definitely, one of the best rappers, but when he came out, it was obvious what we all thought, “Who is this white boy?” Yet, Marlon Craft acknowledged that from the beginning, which is why I give him kudos. He is an extremely talented rapper, but he is also very smart, and unafraid to discuss how white privilege has constructed this world, and shrouds a greater, darker power dynamic between the rich and the poor. #sage

G.L.A.M.

I fully support the dominance of women in the rap game. I, literally, pray that our time comes when the only two female rappers we have are NOT pitted against each other. Instead, I pray for times where rappers like G.L.A.M can further pummel through the mainstream and any stream with a personal and lyrical force that says the most glamorous thing a woman can be is strong.

Denzil Porter

Denzil Porter is a mother-lovin star of Hip Hop’s Underground. He binds mainstream magnetism with a feeling of unknown; having a “hidden gem” presence that people will always love. Who has not said, at least once, “Oh, I loved that artist before he became so famous. Y’all are late!” The way he styles and annotates his rhymes will remind you of Nas and Jay-Z’s early days; booming through messages and lyrical missions like a comet crashing through your planetary minds.

Chris Rivers

This man is a human dragon; spitting fire like a dragon does breathe. Passion boils through his every rhyme to hand deliver you emotions, thoughts, and epiphanies. Moreover, his bond with Denzil Porter and Oswin Benjamin has me awaiting a trio-mixtape….. DO IT!

Toxsikk

GAHHHH!!!! It is so hard to choose faves, but I am making him my last choice for two reasons. His flows are so relaxed and untethered coming from him like a waterfall of endless imagination, which furthers my second reason for liking him: positivity. I really want the future of music to be positive in both how it treats artists, but also how artists treat art. He is so aware that his voice was made to bring awareness to others. 

As for the headliners, could they go wrong? Dave East is becoming a living legend to people, and the minute he walked out on stage; people were buying everything he said. My only wish is that I could buy all his diamonds! DAMN HE PACKS THE JEWELRY! As for Azealia Banks, no matter how much you hate on her or call her crazy, the woman does have talent and can give a seriously fun show. Instead, this festival was about making the unknown known, and I was better for it. I learned that all you need is ONE performance to put you on the map. Yet, that performance is built on the drive, determination, and desire to not just have your voice heard by others but to become a voice for them. For Information On World Underground Festival Click Here.