Bonnaroo Recap:
Mark A. Macpherson
@the541guy
It was a big weekend for hip-hop at the 12th annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The festival ended today with Harlem’s own A$AP Rocky closing the fest for the hip-hop portion.
Earlier in the week ArrabMUZIK blasted the crowd with his bass heavy hits followed later in the day by Killer Mike’s deep and often political backed songs. Big K.R.I.T. performed Friday evening to a packed tent as eager fans tried hopping over the barricade to get a closer look at the Mississippi native. Friday night also hosted the Wu Tang Clan on its second largest stage and performed hits “C.R.E.A.M” and “Protect Ya Neck” with an outro by Method Man asking fans if they would like a 20th anniversary album. We later caught up with Wu Tang Clans publicist and confirmed that a new album is in the makes.
Friday night ended with a once in a lifetime collaboration of Schoolboy Q, RZA, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Method Man, Solange and a surprise appearance from Red Man backed by funk band, “Lettuce.” Method Man & Redman performed Part II during the performance. Earl Sweatshirt was scheduled to perform in the Superjam and on his own but cancelled due to illness. Nas took over the main stage Saturday evening while R. Kelly performed a late night performance in true R. Kelly fashion, entering with a 40 person choir group and a few separate introductions.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis took the main stage over Sunday afternoon while possibly having the largest crowd in the hip-hop portion of the festival as fans in the tens of thousands chanted for the duo. Macklemore’s introduction included asking a fan to wear his fur jacket as he performed, which the audience member quickly obliged. Kendrick Lamar followed Macklemore’s performance on the main stage to yet another impressive crowd turnout performing songs from his recent major hit, “good kid, m.A.A.d city”. This years festival sold out at 80,000 tickets the day before it began and is held the second full weekend of every June. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers closed the festival.
