Dubbed “the most prolific and essential hip-hop festival ever,” The Art of Rap was born in 2015. Assembled by co-creators Ice T and Mickey Bentson, as well as inspired by Ice T’s documentary of the same name, the inaugural festival took place on July 18, 2015 out in Irvine, California. Such a success, the festival is bigger, better, and now is spread over multiple dates in 2016 as it travels to spread the word of real Hip Hop. Presented by SiriusXM Backspin, this year’s The Art of Rap hits everywhere from Texas, to California, to Michigan, and the mecca of Hip Hop itself, New York. With a lineup of some of Hip Hop’s most essential artists including Ice T himself, Public Enemy, Naughty by Nature, Mobb Deep, Sugarhill Gang, EPMD, Kurtis Blow, MC Lyte, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Kurts Blow, and Scorpio, this is a must see for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre.
While Rock and Metal festivals have been major successes over the years, ala Vans Warped Tour, Rockstar Energy’s Mayhem Festival, among others, it is time Hip Hop attains the respect it deserves with a festival such as Art of Rap. With that said, act now and see when the tour drops into town before it is too late.
Tour Dates:
July 22 – Hollywood, Calif. @ Palladium
July 23 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ Downtown Las Vegas
July 29 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Coney Island Amphitheater
July 31 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
August 5 – Chicago, Ill. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
August 6 – Detroit, Mich. @ Freedom Hill Amphitheatre
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