On the official showcase tip, well, go read the official schedule.
But lots of you aren't sure where to start. It's an overwhelming wave of criss-crossed events.
ATG's starting ace, Cass Luskin, is kind enough to reveal his personal conference schedule. Like the Big East's, it's a long and brutal trek, but makes time to encompass every noteworthy hip-hop artist here in Austin on official business.
Wednesday
Blu - 9:50 pm, Back Alley Social (303 W 5th St)
Blu, whose bio calls him the "torchbearer for LA's new-school scene," made quite a stir in 2007 when he dropped Below the Heavens, a collabo with producer Exile. His subjects are conscious and emotional, his flow is complex and interesting, and his beats are pretty fucking solid. Here at ATG, we're fans, although he does sound a little bitch-made at times.
Mojoe - 11:00 pm, Mohawk Patio (912 Red River St.)
Easy Lee and Tre constitute Mojoe, a San Antonion group who describes themselvs as "The Roots meet OutKast over dinner with Marvin Gaye at D'Angelo's house." What More Can I Say? © Jay-Z.
Bavu Blakes and the Extra Plairs - 1:00 am, Mohawk Patio (912 Red River St.)
Bavu Blakes is the bedrock of the Austin rap scene, and has contributed verses to nearly every rap mixtape to come out of this city. Last year, he began a series called '08 Is So Great, where he dropped a song every fucking week for the whole year. His influential style isn't gangsta or conscious, but, rather, seeks to use the themes of human experience to create universally accessible songs.
Thursday
Hollywood Holt - 8:00 pm, Beauty Bar Backyard (617 E 7th St)
I caught Holt during last year's SXSW at an in-store show over at Complete Clothing. His rhymes were ill, his beats were bangin, and he had a fantastic stage presence. When he first showed up, wearing some banana-yellow, tight-ass pants, he grabbed the mic and said: "I've got motherfuckin' yellow pants on!"
Reflection Eternal (Kweli and Hi-Tek) - 12:10 am, Scoot Inn (1308 E 4th St.)
Y'all know damn well who Talib Kweli is. Say what you will about the man, he always puts on a good show.
Kid CuDi - 1:00 am, Aces Lounge (222 E 6th St.)
Kid Cudi found critical and commercial success with his 2008 mixtape A Kid Named Cudi, and galvanized the emerging hipster rap scene. Signed to Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music label, rumors abound that the Cudder was instrumental in creating the sound of Kanye's most recent album, 808's and Heartbreaks. His alternative, electro beats are tempered with melodic vocals, and almost always accompanied with a verse, all written and performed by Cudi alone. His set at Aces will undoubtedly be a highlight of the festival, so get there early and with a lot of money if you ain't got a wristband.
The BarKays - 1:00 am, Dirty Dog Bar (505 E 6th St.)
No shit. The fucking BarKays are playing! These cats are legendary, and have been ever since they got started as the Stax house band in 1966.
Friday
Phranchyze - 8:45 pm, Prague (422 Congress Ave.)
Much love is due to Austin rapper Phranchyze. Him and Zeale are holdin' shit down here year-round, and deserve respect for that alone. Furthermore, he's a pretty good rapper.
Zeale - 10:30 pm, Back Alley Social (303 W 5th St.)
Zeale is my favorite Austin rapper, besides Bavu Blakes. He's comfortable with the southern double-time, but doesn't concern himself with the Houston scene which has become synonymous with Texas rap.
Mickey Factz - Beauty Bar Backyard (617 E 7th St.)
Internet sensation Mickey Factz, known for his love of Supras and the freeness of his music, hits up Beauty Bar. He describes himself, somewhat arrogantly, as "Everything that Afrika Bambaataa would've envisioned hip-hop to be in 2008, 2016, 2030," but his rhymes are ultimately pretty fucking solid. For you internet hip-hop heads, Mickey Factz is made-to-order, exactly what y'all look for in a rapper.
Palestinian Rapperz -- 11:00 pm, Club 115 (115 San Jacinto St.)
If brown is the new black, then Gaza is like the new Queensbridge. I don't speak Arabic, and these guys don't rap in English, but I like the idea. I was in Damascus a few months ago, and somebody asked me what all these black rappers were complaining about: "They have running water, don't they?" If ghetto-ness is the criteria for realness, then Palestinians are the realest motherfuckers out there. I don't expect this show to be busy, which will be a nice break from the waves of industry dickheads crowding every other show in this city. From an Austin resident: ahlan wa sahlan, Palestinian Rapperz.
Saturday
Pugs Atomz - 8:45 pm, Barcelona (209 E 6th St.)
Pugs played a show to me and like, five other people a few months ago at Karma Lounge (shoutouts to DJ Notion). Although the crowd was fucking weak, Pugs brought a pretty solid flow and some soulful beats, reflecting his Chicago roots. He's like Lupe without the video games, or Common without the hypocrisy ("Smokin' Aces," anyone?).
Asher Roth - 10:00 pm, Vice (302 E 6th St.)
Vice, regularly, is an 18-and-up club filled with skanks and fake hustla's. Having them put on Asher Roth, white-rapper and vanguard of the hipster rap scene, is kinda funny to me. Check out the ATG interview with dude, for more information.
B.o.B. - 10:55 pm, Austin Music Hall (208 Nueces St.)
I stumbled onto B.o.B. through his near-constant Nahright.com exposure, and found his singing and strumming to be novel, interesting and pleasant. An Atlanta resident, it's easy to hear the Goodie Mob, Outkast influence, yet B.o.B. brings a new feel to the game. His Cloud 9 mixtape launched him to success, and, in blurring the lines between singing and rapping, he brings to mind new generation artists like Cudi and Hamilton, but ultimately seems more like Andre 3000 than anyone else. Check out his track "Cloud 9" to get an idea of what B.o.B. does. He's also playing a set at the Fader fort, for those who got on their RSVP game.
GLC - 12:30 am, Barcelona (209 E 6th St)
GLC debuted on Kanye's single off The College Dropout, "Spaceship." His deep voice makes for a pretty sick delivery, and, as a G.O.O.D. Music signee, you can expect a certain sound. I don't know how consistent he is now, but "I Ain't Even On Yet" was fucking ill. "Drunk as a motherfucker! (I ain't even on yet!)"
- Cass Luskin
Blu - 9:50 pm, Back Alley Social (303 W 5th St)
Blu, whose bio calls him the "torchbearer for LA's new-school scene," made quite a stir in 2007 when he dropped Below the Heavens, a collabo with producer Exile. His subjects are conscious and emotional, his flow is complex and interesting, and his beats are pretty fucking solid. Here at ATG, we're fans, although he does sound a little bitch-made at times.
Mojoe - 11:00 pm, Mohawk Patio (912 Red River St.)
Easy Lee and Tre constitute Mojoe, a San Antonion group who describes themselvs as "The Roots meet OutKast over dinner with Marvin Gaye at D'Angelo's house." What More Can I Say? © Jay-Z.
Bavu Blakes and the Extra Plairs - 1:00 am, Mohawk Patio (912 Red River St.)
Bavu Blakes is the bedrock of the Austin rap scene, and has contributed verses to nearly every rap mixtape to come out of this city. Last year, he began a series called '08 Is So Great, where he dropped a song every fucking week for the whole year. His influential style isn't gangsta or conscious, but, rather, seeks to use the themes of human experience to create universally accessible songs.
Thursday
Hollywood Holt - 8:00 pm, Beauty Bar Backyard (617 E 7th St)
I caught Holt during last year's SXSW at an in-store show over at Complete Clothing. His rhymes were ill, his beats were bangin, and he had a fantastic stage presence. When he first showed up, wearing some banana-yellow, tight-ass pants, he grabbed the mic and said: "I've got motherfuckin' yellow pants on!"
Reflection Eternal (Kweli and Hi-Tek) - 12:10 am, Scoot Inn (1308 E 4th St.)
Y'all know damn well who Talib Kweli is. Say what you will about the man, he always puts on a good show.
Kid CuDi - 1:00 am, Aces Lounge (222 E 6th St.)
Kid Cudi found critical and commercial success with his 2008 mixtape A Kid Named Cudi, and galvanized the emerging hipster rap scene. Signed to Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music label, rumors abound that the Cudder was instrumental in creating the sound of Kanye's most recent album, 808's and Heartbreaks. His alternative, electro beats are tempered with melodic vocals, and almost always accompanied with a verse, all written and performed by Cudi alone. His set at Aces will undoubtedly be a highlight of the festival, so get there early and with a lot of money if you ain't got a wristband.
The BarKays - 1:00 am, Dirty Dog Bar (505 E 6th St.)
No shit. The fucking BarKays are playing! These cats are legendary, and have been ever since they got started as the Stax house band in 1966.
Friday
Phranchyze - 8:45 pm, Prague (422 Congress Ave.)
Much love is due to Austin rapper Phranchyze. Him and Zeale are holdin' shit down here year-round, and deserve respect for that alone. Furthermore, he's a pretty good rapper.
Zeale - 10:30 pm, Back Alley Social (303 W 5th St.)
Zeale is my favorite Austin rapper, besides Bavu Blakes. He's comfortable with the southern double-time, but doesn't concern himself with the Houston scene which has become synonymous with Texas rap.
Mickey Factz - Beauty Bar Backyard (617 E 7th St.)
Internet sensation Mickey Factz, known for his love of Supras and the freeness of his music, hits up Beauty Bar. He describes himself, somewhat arrogantly, as "Everything that Afrika Bambaataa would've envisioned hip-hop to be in 2008, 2016, 2030," but his rhymes are ultimately pretty fucking solid. For you internet hip-hop heads, Mickey Factz is made-to-order, exactly what y'all look for in a rapper.
Palestinian Rapperz -- 11:00 pm, Club 115 (115 San Jacinto St.)
If brown is the new black, then Gaza is like the new Queensbridge. I don't speak Arabic, and these guys don't rap in English, but I like the idea. I was in Damascus a few months ago, and somebody asked me what all these black rappers were complaining about: "They have running water, don't they?" If ghetto-ness is the criteria for realness, then Palestinians are the realest motherfuckers out there. I don't expect this show to be busy, which will be a nice break from the waves of industry dickheads crowding every other show in this city. From an Austin resident: ahlan wa sahlan, Palestinian Rapperz.
Saturday
Pugs Atomz - 8:45 pm, Barcelona (209 E 6th St.)
Pugs played a show to me and like, five other people a few months ago at Karma Lounge (shoutouts to DJ Notion). Although the crowd was fucking weak, Pugs brought a pretty solid flow and some soulful beats, reflecting his Chicago roots. He's like Lupe without the video games, or Common without the hypocrisy ("Smokin' Aces," anyone?).
Asher Roth - 10:00 pm, Vice (302 E 6th St.)
Vice, regularly, is an 18-and-up club filled with skanks and fake hustla's. Having them put on Asher Roth, white-rapper and vanguard of the hipster rap scene, is kinda funny to me. Check out the ATG interview with dude, for more information.
B.o.B. - 10:55 pm, Austin Music Hall (208 Nueces St.)
I stumbled onto B.o.B. through his near-constant Nahright.com exposure, and found his singing and strumming to be novel, interesting and pleasant. An Atlanta resident, it's easy to hear the Goodie Mob, Outkast influence, yet B.o.B. brings a new feel to the game. His Cloud 9 mixtape launched him to success, and, in blurring the lines between singing and rapping, he brings to mind new generation artists like Cudi and Hamilton, but ultimately seems more like Andre 3000 than anyone else. Check out his track "Cloud 9" to get an idea of what B.o.B. does. He's also playing a set at the Fader fort, for those who got on their RSVP game.
GLC - 12:30 am, Barcelona (209 E 6th St)
GLC debuted on Kanye's single off The College Dropout, "Spaceship." His deep voice makes for a pretty sick delivery, and, as a G.O.O.D. Music signee, you can expect a certain sound. I don't know how consistent he is now, but "I Ain't Even On Yet" was fucking ill. "Drunk as a motherfucker! (I ain't even on yet!)"
- Cass Luskin
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