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All photos by Callie Richmond for ATG.

Here's an itemized breakdown of the sites and sounds Reggie and I experienced during March's South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas. It was fun and intense. More importantly, hit the jump to sample ATG's avalanche of wonderful, exclusive photos taken and procured in the name of hip-hop.  

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Ramon

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ATG spoke to Atmosphere's rapper half, Slug, over at the City Paper. Dude is nice. Literally, he's a swell guy.

Photo by Callie Richmond for ATG.

Reggie and I spent the South by Southwest music conference comparing notes and writing for others. ATG will come through with blessed recaps and astonishing photos from an unreal week of hip-hop that boasted staggering levels of star power.

Yes, we got into Kanye: I had to make moves bro, put my shades on and walked in through the VIP line.

 

ATG spoke to exceptional Detroit producer/slightly-less-exceptional-but-wholly-dope rapper Black Milk over at the City Paper.

ATG cohort and emerging DJ, Natalia Ciolko, spent October's second weekend covering the Austin City Limits festival on Fader's behalf. Despite the aggressive use of the editorial we -- it's likely the preferred style of a trendy magazine intent on squashing individual voice in lieu of its branding, trendy perspective anyway -- she killed it.

[Day One]  [Day Two]  [Day Three]

• Run-DMC has been replaced by a special set from Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface, backed by The Roots. Upgrade.
  
• Das Racist blowin' up.
  
• Fuck Vampire Weekend.

Get your tickets already.

Fading burn outs returning to their Simpsons-early '90s roots (Cypress Hill), a revivalist r&b guy infamous for Bel Biv Devoe (Raphael Saadiq), and a well-connected up and comer with more famous cosigners than actual fans (B.o.B) will be the only semblance of hip-hop during Chicago's Lollapalooza festival in August.

Three marquee festivals linchpin the summer season. Coachella is the spring fling. Bonnaroo props up the midsummer fatigue in June. Lollapalooza is the August crescendo. Coachella and Bonnaroo have already shown their cards and put on for the genre across the board: Jay-Z, Wale, P.O.S., 2ManyDJs, Major Lazer, Flying Lotus, Gorillaz, De La Soul, Mayer Hawthorne, Jay Electronica, Nas & Damian Marley, Kid Cudi.

Held annually in Chicago's Grant Park since 2005, Lolla is a must. We're talking Rage Against the Machine/Kanye West/Wilco/Radiohead/Nine Inch Nails as headliners in one sitting, charging the masses. While Coachella and Roo bring the party to scenic, rural grounds, Lollapalooza is held on the shores of Lake Michigan, in the heart of the Dunkin' Donuts district, downtown in one of the most densely populated U.S. cities. Whereas the other two festivals are defined by camping and mushrooms and free love, Lollapalooza is about crowded subways full of locals and enjoying Lupe Fiasco with his hometown skyline approvingly adorning the view.

To be clear, Lollapalooza is the most accessible of the major festivals and thus it bears an added responsibility to diversify beyond trendy college rock and trendy college rock from 20 years ago. No, Lady Gaga doesn't count.

Photo by Callie Richmond for ATG.

Virginia's all-time greatest cocaine gurus, Clipse, strolled through Central Texas last night and rocked a sold out crowd at Ace's Lounge. Local firestarters Kevin Jack, Drastik, The League of Extraordinary Gz and Vonnegutt opened the night.

Check out an exclusive show gallery after the jump.