Chance The Rapper performing at Budweiser Made in America 2016 (Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up).
The stars came out to play at this weekend's annual "Budweiser Made in America" music festival in downtown Philadelphia. Known for an A-list line up curated by Jay Z himself, this year's festival featured headliners Rihanna, Coldplay, Chance The Rapper, 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne, and more.
Check out photos from the festival below:
J. Cole performs at the Billboard "Hot 100" Music Fest on August 21st, 2016 (Benjamin Esakof).
Billboard’s “Hot 100” Music Festival came to Long Island’s Nikon at Jones Beach Theater this past weekend. Saturday’s lineup included huge pop stars such as Ariana Grande and hip-hop artists such as Fetty Wap. The venue itself is worth praise; as the name insinuates, the outdoor theater sits directly on Jones Beach pointing towards the Atlantic Ocean side of Long Island’ shoreline. On the water is not an over exaggeration. The venue’s stage literally hovers over the water protected in a small bay; therefore, artists and crew can only access backstage through side entrances or a tunnel underneath the venue. After the rain showers cleared up Saturday, the comfortable temperatures and fair skies created a perfect background for the outdoor music festival.
Fetty Wap performs at the Billboard "Hot 100" Music Fest on August 20th, 2016 (Benjamin Esakof).
Though the Billboard Music Festival included three stages in total, the two side stages were immensely smaller than the main stage that is the original Jones Beach Theater seating. Therefore, the bigger artists such as Fetty Wap, Rachel Platten, Martin Garrix, and Ariana Grande were all on the main stage. Fetty Wap came onstage with his entourage and feature artist Monty, a rapper highlighted in hits such as “679” and “My Way.” It was everything a typical hip-hop star’s performance includes: fun excitement from his hype man and crew, sing-a-longs to hits, and fun stage effects that support the badass nature of Fetty. From his mostly-shirtless set to his eye slit, Fetty is not someone to be taken lightly. He’s intense, and his hit-after-hit streak is not something to be taken lightly.
Ariana Grande was the headliner of the evening, beginning her set around ten o’oclock. Her cute, perky yet sassy nature exudes onstage. Grande adorned a casual, army green outfit with sunglasses for the beginning of her act that reinforces her diva attitude that comes across in her lyrics. That’s partially the appeal of Grande; she began crashing the charts and gaining Billboard attention because she boldly stated that she has “one less problem without ya.” Grande has only grown, as she grew out of her teenage looks to a full-blown young woman. “Dangerous Woman” is an example of the sophisticated sensuality in her new album. Grande made sure to sing her new hits such as “Into You” in addition to old hits like “Bang Bang” and “Problem.” Like her personality, Grande’s performance was upbeat and full of activity. Dancers accompanied her, as she quickly lost the sunglasses and bounced around the stage. It was a fun and fresh way to end the first night of the beautiful, coastal festival.
Sunday’s lineup was a mix of old stardom and new. J. Cole, a rapper known for his intricate lyrics and limited flashiness, was one of the main acts that brought a crowd. His energy is always palpable, and the rapper is a great asset to the hip-hop industry because he brings the witty, deep level to rap music that is sometimes ignored with other artists. Desiigner, a smaller rapper known for his big hit “Panda,” also performed Sunday at one of the smaller stages. He ran through the crowd and seemed to really enjoy himself, but it is still a question whether or not Desiigner can continue his fame and not become a one hit wonder. Calvin Harris was the newer talent that rose to the main stage for his headliner performance. His status has really picked up the past few years, with almost ever song he makes becoming a major radio hit. His time onstage was a total production; from the lights to high-energy music, it was exactly what a DJ performance should be.
Check out photos from the weekend below:
(Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up)
Monty, the counterpart to Fetty Wap in the hip-hop group Remy Boyz, is an unsung talent. Though his mixtape Monty Zoo dropped last year, the same year as Fetty Wap’s Fetty Wap, Monty deserves more than the media has given him. Every mainstream music listener has heard the recognizable, hollow, wailing tone of Fetty Wap on hits such as “679,” “My Way,” and many others since 2015. However, Monty is the other voice on these tracks, mentioned by feature, that helps carry these hits through to their finish. Roman’s Rap-Up talked with the young rapper after his feature performance with Fetty Wap’ set at the Billboard “Hot 100” Music Festival at Long Island’s Nikon at Jones Beach Theater. From his excitement for the future to his constant acknowledgement for where he came from, Monty is an artist who is thankful to share the spotlight but also is ready to carve his own path solo, and the fans should listen.
(Benjamin Esakof/Roman's Rap-Up)
“Fetty and I met at a chicken store… we linked up, and we both were on the same thing,” Monty said. The origination of Remy Boyz, originally with three members and now only two, began as simple as where the two rappers come from. Both carry a very deep and honest sense of their roots and their upbringing, and therefore, their normal meeting comes as no surprise. “We’re an hour and a half from home,” he said, “[Family and friends] love the chance to watch us perform especially from where we come from. To be able to perform [with] the beautiful view out here...” It’s a dream come true to him. Remy Boyz rolled up in black cars with New Jersey plates, as they drove from home, so the Billboard Music Festival was close to playing in their backyard. As he continued to talk about his experience at the festival, there was an easy sense of happiness and fun between him, Fetty, and their gang who eagerly waited to drive the short distance home to enjoy the rest of the night. The festival experience is much different than headlining a concert; Monty said, “It’s even crazier seeing other artists and having the opportunity for them to be right down the hall.” It was a special moment for Remy Boyz, almost a celebratory performance rooted in pure enjoyment to show their friends and family what they accomplished over the past year.
When asked about new music, Monty’s demeanor lit up. “Monty Zoo Part II is about to drop real soon. It might be next month,” he said. This album would be a follow up to his mixtape from last year, and it would include lots of features from Fetty Wap, and the two trade of featuring on each other’s tracks. Monty just released a single off of the new project called “Right Back.” He said, “It’s one of the craziest videos… it’s my favorite song right now.” When talking about what’s to come and what’s next, Monty cannot seem to hold back his optimism for the future of his career. For sharing the spotlight with Fetty Wap who’s hot in the eyes of the hip-hop realm, their relationship is all love and brotherhood. Fetty watched the interview from a few feet behind Monty, goofing around with his entourage but also standing by for support like a friend does. Monty believes his personality speaks for itself. “I’m chill, laidback, easy. I’m the coolest person you’ll ever meet,” he jokes. There’s no outright aggression or competitive edge to the group. Remy Boyz 1738, a phrase constantly repeated like a mantra on and offstage, is not just a slogan or casually-used phrase. The title stands for the finest cognac liquor in the Urban Distract where they’re from; a metaphor for the music they produce: it’s the best. It’s a constant reminder of who they are, where they come from, and what they stand for. Monty represents all the growth the pair has been through, and it’s only a matter of time until he drops a track that blows up radio stations “Trap Queen” style.
After releasing Channel Orange, one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all-time, back in 2012, Frank Ocean essentially disappeared from the music scene, only coming out to occasionally build hype for the release of his highly anticipated follow-up release. His most notable announcement came in early 2015, when he revealed that his album would be dropping in July of that same year. But when the album didn’t come out as expected, without any explanation, Frank’s fans were understandably upset.
But then, over a year after the anticipated date, Frank Ocean finally released his album. Utilizing the element of surprise, Blonde was released early Saturday night after Frank debuted the single “Nikes” in the early morning while most of his fans were asleep.
For those expecting a “Channel Orange 2,” they might be a bit disappointed. On Blonde, Frank Ocean delivers a completely new sound to his audience. The lack of drums brings atmospheric and dreamy vibes to the project. This production style paired with Frank’s vocals ends up creating some incredibly beautiful sonic moments on pretty much every track. There is no really “bad” song per se. Aside from a few skits that the album could potentially do without, every track is enjoyable and holds something that every listener can find value in.
At the end of the day Blonde was well worth the 4+ year wait. While there might not be a track that could have as much pop appeal as “Thinkin Bout You,” his project may just be enough to keep fans satisfied for another whole four years.
Pitbull performs at the TD Garden in Boston as part of his "Badman Tour" on August 12th, 2016 (RJ Jaczko/Roman's Rap-Up).
Mr. Worldwide, better known as Pitbull, brought his Summer 2016 "Badman Tour" to Boston Friday night for an unforgettable evening of Latin-infused pop music.
Check out photos of Pitbull and opener Prince Royce below:
