SXSW has announced more than 1,600 Showcasing Artists for the 2015 SXSW Music Festival, taking place Tuesday, March 17 – Sunday, March 22, 2015. More artists will soon be announced, ultimately pushing the total number of official performers to more than 2,000.
To help narrow down some bands you should definitely see, we've shared our SXSW Staff Picks and a list of Austin Bands To Watch. If you like hip-hop, there's plenty to see at SXSW this year. The list of official (and unofficial) artists includes names like Action Bronson, Run the Jewels, Rae Sremmurd, Doomtree, 2 Chainz, Madlib, Ghostface Killah, Lil' Wayne, Raekwon, Freddie Gibbs, The Pharcyde, Busta Rhymes, Big Sean, Mick Jenkins, Chali 2na, Fat Tony, Dillon Cooper, Mick Jenkins, Grandmilly, Que, Key! and many more.
Here's a look at 10 hip-hop acts to watch for at SXSW 2015:
The first alum from last year's list is Bishop Nehru, who will be hitting the festival packing an even greater punch than SX2014. Hailing from Rockland County, NY, weighing in at what couldn't be more than 130 lbs., 18 year-old Nehru is a heavyweight working alongside heavyweights. Fresh off the release of his fourth record, NehruvianDOOM, a collaboration with the legendary MF Doom, his 2015 release Nehruvia: Ununderstandable is being produced by the one and only, Nas. Nuff' said.
As is the case nowadays, to make it to the top, one must be a jack-of-all-trades. Black Milk is just that. Since getting his first production credits with Slum Village on Dirty District in 2002, to releasing singles with Jack White, the Detroit producer/MC is one of the most respected in the game right now. With his live shows on point, be it live beat sets, or with his band, Nat Turner, 2015 could be the year of the Milk. Catch him now.
Founding member of Pro Era, alongside Joey Bada$$ and the late, great Capital Steez, Fly is one of the Brooklyn underground's finest. Touting himself as the "Rap-Game Tarantino," Cj Fly is going to go loco on SXSW 2015. A product of the New York rap renaissance, his low timbre, over those melodic jazz-infused beats make him unique to the whole Pro Era crew. He has the potential to step out onto his own this year, so go watch him blossom.
Another alum from last year's list, the Carol City rapper hasn't really changed. He is still rowdy, still hungry, and at the age of 19, he is destined to do more. Being brought up a member of the Raider Clan, Curry decided to leave the group before releasing his only full-length to date, Nostalgic 64. Heavily influenced by life in Miami-Dade county, remaining true to his roots, and the struggles young African-Americans face on a day-to-day basis, Curry will always speak his mind. After a successful tour at the end of last year with Deniro Farrar, be on the lookout for new music in 2015 from this promising youngster.
Not one, not two, but seven members make up the rap collective that is Doomtree. Formed by P.O.S and MK Larada (no longer a member) in Minneapolis circa 2001, it was a slow and steady process to get where they are today. Fellow rappers Cecil Otter, Sims, Dessa, and Mike Mictlan are joined by producers Lazerbeak and Paper Tiger. After refining their sound, which is still hard to define, as each member is influenced by different musical styles and genres, the group released their first official record in 2008. Their 3rd album, All Hands, literally just dropped January 27th, so check it at SXSW.
All we gotta say is, this dude is a must see act this year. Atlanta is a mecca of hip hop. From The Dungeon Family, home to Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Run the Jewels' Killer Mike, to Gucci Mane's 1017 Brick Squad Records. But a new breed is emerging, and Father is leading the pack. His Awful Records, comprised of 15 members, focuses on the DIY approach to making music. Slow delivery over even slower, spaced out beats makes for a methodical, composed sound. A refreshing sight in an over-saturated market of ring tone bullshit. And did we mention he's super tight with iLoveMakonnen?
If someone tells you Canada is good for nothing, they obviously haven't checked out The Posterz. The trio, made up of Nate Husser, Joey Sherrett, and Kris the $pirit, originated in Montreal. With the release of their first, and only EP, Starships and Dark Tints, at the end of 2013, the group has been riding the wave of success throughout 2014. In an article from Exclaim.ca, music reviewer Scott Simpson lamented, "It's disheartening to see so much talent wasted on the unappreciative. While their live set wasn't perfect and definitely has room to grow and develop, the Posterz need a bigger audience to help them do so." SXSW is just the audience.
Where do we start? We know first hand the glory that is Run the Jewels. After having them rip through our Bud Light Lounge at the end of last year, we have not stopped bumping Run the Jewels 2. Made up of El-P and Killer Mike, Run the Jewels is a two man supergroup. A top producer for dozens of underground artists, El-P is also CEO of his own Definitive Jux label, while Killer Mike spit some of his earliest verses on Outkast's Stankonia and Jay-Z's The Blueprint 2. In 2012, El-P produced R.A.P. Music, Killer Mike's 6th album. In 2013, Run the Jewels was formed and the rest is history. Just shut up and take our word for it.
Another duo making the list is New York's Weekend Money. Rapper Ne$$ is Philly born and bred, while producer Bahgdaddy made his way to NYC by way of Iraq. Both Ne$$ and Bahgdaddy admit to being influenced by life in the Big Apple. In a city where virtually anything goes, the same principle applies to their music. With friends like Hot Sugar, and Houston's own Fat Tony, the duo is able constantly tweak and change their sound, be it with more serious, straightforward lyrically heavily tracks, to more fun, experimental endeavors. Embracing all the diversity of their surroundings ensures no two songs sound the same, and these days, that is a breath of fresh air.
When Zebra Katz dropped "Ima Read" back in 2012, it was plain to see he was something else. Originally conceived as part of his studies at Eugene Lang College, Katz' image grew and grew until he had to blow up, which he did, becoming somewhat of a fashion icon thanks to Rick Owen's 2012 show at Paris Fashion Week. Now labeled as a leader of "queer hip hop," and a product of the Mad Decent crew, Zebra Katz continues to grow in both his eccentric nature and his talent as a performer. His beats are notably infused with "ooh's","aah's", and every noise in between he can imagine. His delivery, though repetitive and simplistic, is equally irresistible. He's also really, really fun.
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