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Vic Mensa photographed in New York in 2017

Vic Mensa

 

Photo: Jared Siskin/WireImage.com

Interview
Interview: Vic Mensa On Jay Z, 'The Autobiography' vic-mensa-talks-chicago-jay-z-and-what-he-taught-no-id

Vic Mensa Talks Chicago, Jay Z, And What He Taught No. I.D.

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The Chicago rapper gets candid about life in his hometown, his debut album, 'The Autobiography,' and why he's letting "bull**** bounce off" his back
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 11, 2017 - 12:17 pm

Vic Mensa's ascension to becoming one of rap music's ones to watch has been many things: controversial, sporadic, fascinating. From his inclusion in XXL's Freshman Class of 2014 to the recent release of his No I.D.-executive produced-debut album, The Autobiography, it is clear that the 24-year-old Chicago rapper is musically magnetic. So it's not a surprise that he's winning over fans and critics alike. But who's the guy Jay Z dubbed "a once in a lifetime artist"?

We caught up with the Roc Nation rapper to get to peel back the layers to get to know the man behind the art.

Vic Mensa: Why Chicago Is Complex

Who came up with the concept for the album art on The Autobiography? But more importantly who cleaned the place up afterward?
Actually, it was a set that I had built on a stage in a theater, and it was supposed to be me in the middle of chaos writing my way out of it. And it took inspiration from a song on the album called "Homewrecker" that I sampled [from] Weezer. In the song my apartment gets trashed, and so I wanted to show a trashed apartment and put myself in the middle of it, and really kind of portray how I was using these songs to describe my immediate surroundings.

You've said the current list of rappers talking about "something that means anything" is few and far between. Who are three rappers who are putting out substantive music right now?
Kendrick [Lamar], J. Cole and Jay Z.

Speaking of Jay Z, he has said that you are "a once in a lifetime artist." Do you feel that has put added pressure on you? Or is it just more fuel to be great?
Jay Z has been a really big influence to me far before I ever met him, and one of the nicest writers to ever grace a mic, so … "Blessed" is the word I'd use to describe that.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, you mentioned that you learned the most from working with No I.D. What's the biggest thing you think he learned from working with you?
(laughs) He probably learned to make sure all the doors are closed in the studio so that the next room over wouldn't be upset about noise, and he would probably say he learned to lock the doors too for hangers-on, and people that just show up unannounced (laughs).

The Autobiography

Do you think that Chicago is on the verge of becoming one of rap's capital cities on the same level of Los Angeles and New York?
I would say Chicago is 100% already there. I think Chicago is pretty much the rap capital at this point in time.

Chicago is often portrayed as a war-torn city full of violence and unrest. Being someone who is from the city, what is Chicago really like?
Chicago is complicated and complex and very violent but also very rich with history and tradition and art and culture — it's all these things. I think the issue is that it's often characterized as being only violent. I can't even sugarcoat it and say that it's not violent and dangerous, but it's also very segregated. You can live an entire lifetime in Chicago and not hear a gunshot, but if you go in a certain neighborhood then you can live your whole lifetime hearing gunshots all the time.

You have been very candid about dealing with depression. Few rappers have gone there publicly. Why was it important for you to speak out on that?
I have a lot of kids that reach out to me and they tell me my music helped them through a difficult time, or in more dramatic situations, be like, "your music kept me from killing myself," When you're talking to 15 [and] 16-year-old kids that are dealing with these serious, serious mental issues and situations — and being a kid that dealt with those things at a younger age, and deals with them at an older age — I think that it's of paramount importance to erase the shame and the stigma around talking about it because if we don't identify the problem then we can't heal. So I try to be transparent and vocal about the things that I've gone through in efforts to grow myself and also to help other people that may not feel like it's ok for them to talk about it.

Outside of music, what's your favorite hobby?
I'm really into vintage clothes. So I've been … vintage shopping and kind of adding and reconstructing things and just doing a little bit of designing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXjHkn9lVrp/?hl=en&taken-by=vicmensa

GRAMMYs

Content Not Available

We hear you have a black belt. Do you ever get to use it?
It's been a long time since I was in a karate class, but I did Korean martial arts when I was a kid into adolescence, and it's been some years since I used it though. ... I'm on a different vibe these days. I'm like trying to not take things personally and let people's bull**** bounce off of me, so I'm not really kicking people in the face too much anymore

If you won a GRAMMY, where would you keep it?
I like the story about Bon Iver. They said he kept his GRAMMY in, like, the basement bathroom so he could just focus on getting another one. If I won a GRAMMY, I'd probably keep it at my mom's house on 47th Street.

R&B Duo THEY. Talk Los Angeles, Touring, 'Nü Religion: Hyena'

6LACK at Lolla 2019

6LACK at Lolla 2019

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

News
6LACK On Reuniting With Khalid For "Seasons" Video 6lack-his-new-seasons-video-featuring-khalid-getting-back-studio-more

6LACK On His New "Seasons" Video Featuring Khalid, Getting Back In The Studio & More

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The Atlanta alt-R&B singer told us that pairing with his fellow GRAMMY nominee is like "two brothers working, it's super easy, super natural"
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Aug 9, 2019 - 6:12 pm

While On The Road at Lollapalooza 2019, the Recording Academy caught up with Atlanta alt-R&B artist 6LACK to talk about playing Lolla, recent collabs and when we can expect new music. We also learned more about his latest video for "Seasons" and how it felt to reunite with his fellow GRAMMY nominee Khalid.

6LACK On Reuniting With Khalid For "Seasons"

Having originally linked up on 2018's "OTW," 6LACK revealed that reuniting with Khalid was like "two brothers working, it's super easy, super natural." He also said that the new, heartfelt video is a visual representation of seasons changing and focuses on capturing joyful moments.

"It's a video that isn't really focused too much on me and what I'm doing or what I'm wearing, or anything like that," he said. "It's more so about capturing moments that make me happy, that make me feel like seasons are changing, with other people involved."

He also talked about what he learned from working with J. Cole, another collaborator on his second studio album, East Atlanta Love Letter, as well as being ready to record new music again:

"I just got back in the mood to start recording, so I don't even know what to expect at all. I just know it's been a full year since I've made a full song of my own, and that's the longest I've ever gone without making music. But I had to spend time with my daughter and actually live for a second, and now I'm ready."

J.I.D. Talks Lollapalooza Debut, Working With J. Cole & Dreamville, New Music & More

J.I.D at Lolla 2019

J.I.D at Lolla 2019

Photo: Josh Brasted/FilmMagic/Getty Images

News
J.I.D On Lolla Debut, J. Cole & Dreamville jid-talks-lollapalooza-debut-working-j-cole-dreamville-new-music-more

J.I.D Talks Lollapalooza Debut, Working With J. Cole & Dreamville, New Music & More

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"I've been doing a lot of shows this year, but this has been one of the best festivals," the Atlanta rapper told the Recording Academy while On The Road at Lollapalooza 2019
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Aug 7, 2019 - 5:09 pm

Rising hip-hop artist J.I.D, part of J. Cole's Dreamville Records powerhouse squad, has been on fire lately. Late last year, just in time for his Halloween birthday, the Atlanta rapper released his sophomore album, DiCaprio 2, which is filled with big collabs and even bigger energy throughout its 14 tracks.

Just minutes after making his Lollapalooza debut, he explained the mood behind the album, saying: "I wanted it to be a festival-like project… So I made these songs specifically for energy, for working out, for cardio."

J.I.D On Lolla Debut, J. Cole & Dreamville

He also talked about loving the crowd at his epic Lolla show, as well as working with his Dreamville labelmates and Cole on their recent masterpiece album, Revenge Of The Dreamers III. The Atlanta native also discussed the rich music scene in his hometown, his biggest influences and his eclectic list of dream collaborators—Beyoncé, James Blake and Little Dragon all make the list.

Finally, he teased some new music, telling the Recording Academy, "The first one was the introduction to me, second one was all about performances, energy and all that stuff. The next one, you guys will see." Check out J.I.D's interview in full above.



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A post shared by J.I.D (@jidsv) on Aug 7, 2019 at 11:40am PDT

Looping Guru FKJ Talks Improvising "Tadow" With Masego & Being "A Melting Pot"

Lightning in a Bottle 2018

Lightning in a Bottle 2018

Photo: Aaron Glassman

News
All The Best Summer/Spring Music Festivals your-2019-guide-best-summerspring-music-festivals

Your 2019 Guide To The Best Summer/Spring Music Festivals

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Having trouble keeping up with 2019's many music fests? We've got you covered with this comprehensive list of 20+ ones to check out across North America—plus a few abroad
Ana Monroy Yglesias
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
May 8, 2019 - 10:40 am

Both weekends of Coachella 2019 have come and gone, which means that we are fully entrenched in music festival season in North America. Since late last year, the fest lineups keep coming, and, like many of you, we couldn't be more excited for the sunny, music-filled days around the corner.

To help you keep abreast on all the major fests you can explore this summer, we've compiled this handy list to highlight some of the ones across the country (plus a few abroad) you may want to check out.

https://twitter.com/LIBfestival/status/1124147462766092293

We'll be here soon ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/4ha61ZY8Hi

— Lightning in a Bottle (@LIBfestival) May 3, 2019

Related: Jan Blomqvist Talks Playing Coachella, Berlin Techno & Covering The Rolling Stones

MAY
 

Lightning in a Bottle | May 8–13 | Bakersfield, Calif.

Need to get away and lose yourself in the music ASAP? Well, Lightning in a Bottle is probably calling your name. Bring your pool floaties to cool off in Buena Vista Lake, home to the new location of the Southern California camping music fest. Run by the good time experts/electronic music connoisseurs at the DoLaB, which just made an appearance at Coachella; the environmentally and socially conscious event was one of the first major "transformational music festivals" that so many others have been modeled after.

This year's stacked musical lineup features seven stages and a variety of house, techno and bass artists, featuring GRAMMY-nominated British dance duo Disclosure, a 3D experience from Flying Lotus, Santigold, Toro y Moi, Gramatik, Channel Tres, DJ Koze and Damian Lazarus. There will also be yoga, sound healing, and engaging talks, like one with activist hip-hop duo Climbing PoeTree titled "Creativity is the Antidote to Destruction: Artistic Tools for Urgent Times."

Tickets are still available with options that range from two to five days; more info here.

Corona Capital Fest | May 11 | Guadalajara, Mex.

Taking place on Mexico's West Coast in the city of Guadalajara, Corona Capital will bring the country some of the biggest names in rock, electronica and pop. Featuring Phoenix, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tame Impala, The Chemical Brothers, Christine & the Queens and more, the fest will give people in Mexico the unique opportunity to see artists that tend only to stop by in Mexico City, which hosts its own Corona Capital fest.

Those visiting the country for the fest will find the one-day event a convenient factor, as they can explore the rich history and culinary vastness of the second-largest city in the country, which is known to be the area where tequila and mariachi originated. Sports fans will find excitement in listening to music at the festival site, which is also home to the city’s soccer team, Las Chivas. For more information, visit the festival's website.

GRAMMYs at Corona Capital: Holy Ghost! On What "Do This" Is Really About & Why They Feel So Good About 'Work'

Electric Daisy Carnival | May 17–19 | Las Vegas

Rave lords Insomniac have been bringing the beats with their now-global Electric Daisy Carnival (and its many other EDM events) at the 23rd annual EDC. The flagship fest's ninth year in Las Vegas will take over Sin City from May 17–19 this year. The 2019 lineup is positively stacked with dance music greats, featuring GRAMMY winners Diplo, David Guetta and Tiësto, plus GRAMMY nominees TOKiMONSTA, Paul Oakenfold, Deadmau5, Above & Beyond and Kaskade.

Deadmau5 will be making his first return to the fest since 2010, bringing his new "Cube 3.0" stage setup, and Guetta will be back for his first time since 2012. Australian singer/songwriter DJ/producer extraordinaire Alison Wonderland, plus GRAMMY-nominated rave icons Steve Aoki and Armin van Buuren will bring fire to the three-day event.

If you want to get your dance on and check out the carnival rides, interactive art and plenty of lights and lasers with EDC in Vegas, you're in luck; tickets are still available. Check out EDC's website for more info.

Hangout Music Fest | May 17–19 | Gulf Shores, Ala.

If you're looking for something where you can chill in one spot, perhaps by a body of water, Hangout Music Fest in Gulf Shores, Ala. may be more along the lines of what you're craving. The 10th anniversary, which the organizers have coined a "music vacation," will take place on May 17–19 on the beach.

The stacked lineup of over 50 acts is pretty diverse among artists and genres, with big names in dance music such as GRAMMY winner Diplo, GRAMMY nominees Mura Masa and Sofi Tukker, along with Detroit hero GRiZ and dance festival favorite Alison Wonderland.

Meanwhile, artists in the pop/indie-rock arena include GRAMMY nominees Hozier and Bebe Rexha, as well fan favorites The 1975, Walk The Moon and Jimmy Eat World. 

For more info and to see the complete list of artists, visit the Hangout Fest website.

BottleRock | May 24–26 | Napa, Calif.

If you want to experience the literal fruits of the world-renowned Napa Valley wine country while listening to some solid jams, BottleRock, which is located in wine-rich Napa, may be the fest for you. Its seventh-edition festival's top-tier headliners are GRAMMY winners Imagine Dragons, Mumford & Sons and Neil Young, who will be playing with Lukas Nelson's band Promise Of The Real. Other notable acts include Santana, Pharrell Williams, Gary Clark Jr., Sylvan Esso, Logic, Lord Huron, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Tash Sultana.

Other festival highlights include the Culinary Stage, which features both music from the likes of Big Boi and Juanes, as well as more culinary-focused guests, including Antoni Potowski, the resident foodie of "Queer Eye." No matter your fuel of choice, attendees can expect an amazing selection of Northern California wine, beer and even craft cocktails, as well as food prepared by your neighborhood Michelin-starred Napa faves. The Silent Disco offers even more music, with GRAMMY-nominated dance greats The Crystal Method and Paul Oakenfold taking the decks.

Tickets, including one-day and three-day options, are still available on the fest's website.

More: Tomasa Del Real On Bringing Her Take On Reggaetón, NeoPerreo, To Coachella

https://twitter.com/Primavera_Sound/status/1114104145047445505

Pop icon @MileyCyrus to join Primavera Sound 2019 after Cardi B’s cancellation.https://t.co/b8sQr84YIk pic.twitter.com/qNA5nBvRsA

— Primavera Sound (@Primavera_Sound) April 5, 2019

Primavera Sound | May 30–June 1 | Barcelona

If you've been itching to take a trip abroad in a scenic European city and have eclectic music tastes, you'll have a blast at Barcelona's Primavera Sound. The 19th edition of the music festival offers what organizers coined "The New Normal," a 50/50 gender split among performers. Of the 226 billed artists, over half are women.

The beautifully dense lineup includes both big names and hidden gems across genres, yet the headliners alone show that they are walking their talk. Erykah Badu, Future, Interpol, Tame Impala, Janelle Monáe, Solange, J Balvin, Rosalía, Nas, James Blake and Robyn all take the top spots.

The rest of the lineup is also filled with gems, including Kali Uchis, Liz Phair, Carly Rae Jepsen, Clairo, Cuco, Mura Masa, Empress Of, FKA Twigs, Pusha T and Big Red Machine (the National's Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon collab project).

The festival has also highlighted Primavera's commitment to urban music, with a focus on reggaeton and hip-hop. From the Latin side, in addition to unofficial second-wave reggaeton leader J Balvin, old-school genre legends Ivy Queen (one of the first and few women in the emerging scene in the '90s) and DJ Playero will be throwing down. From the U.S. side, Primavera 2019 will feature an exciting selection of female rappers, including Tierra Whack, Princess Nokia, CupcakKe and Rico Nasty.

Tickets, including single-day options, are still avaible on Primavera Sound's website.

Governors Ball | May 31–June 2 | New York City

Governors Ball Music Festival is returning for their ninth year on Randall's Island Park in New York City on May 31–June 2. 2019 will bring performances by headliners The Strokes and GRAMMY nominees Tyler, the Creator and Florence & the Machine.

The three-day music, art and music event certainly brings an N.Y.C.-inspired melting pot approach to their lineup, and this year does not disappoint. Other highlights include GRAMMY winners Lil Wayne and Kacey Musgraves, GRAMMY nominees SZA, Nas, The Internet, Jorja Smith, Bob Moses, Charli XCX, ZHU, plus Vince Staples, BROCKHAMPTON, Blood Orange, Clairo, Bazzi, MØ, Major Lazer (DJs Jillionaire, Walshy Fire and GRAMMY winner Diplo), Noname, Kaytranada, Gesaffelstein and King Princess.

More info on tickets, as well as the complete lineup and event details, can be found on the Governors Ball site.

Related: Tinder Teams Up With EDC, Gov Ball & More Music Fests For "Festival Mode"

JUNE
 

Roots Picnic | June 1 | Philadelphia

The Roots Picnic is back for its 12th year on June 1 and will feature a special headline performance from GRAMMY-winning band The Roots in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their 1999 album Things Fall Apart. 

H.E.R., 21 Savage and Lil Baby are among other artists on the music festival's bill. Raphael Saadiq,Tank & The Bangas and City Girls will also perform at the one-day event, taking place at its new location at The Mann At Fairmount Park in Philly. 

"We finally have a Roots Picnic in the Park," The Roots' manager Shawn Gee and President of Live Nation Urban said. "The vision 12 years ago was always to provide an all-day musical and cultural experience in Fairmount Park. Black Thought, Questlove and I grew up spending our Sunday afternoons at the Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park watching Philly DJs spin, and enjoying the vibe and the culture. It's a great feeling to be able to come full circle."

For more information on tickets, visit the Ticketmaster website.

https://twitter.com/SplashHousePS/status/1128040756503928833

Feeling the @JusticeElectro fever taking over 💃 Who's ready to get down with these legends this June? 🙌 pic.twitter.com/nxHnWrKMJW

— Splash House (@SplashHousePS) May 13, 2019

Splash House | Jun 7–9 | Palm Springs, Calif.

Splash House has been bringing the beats to the pastel-colored desert of Palm Springs for several years now, and will return June 7–9 (as well as in August). GRAMMY-winning French electro heavyweights Justice, GRAMMY-nominated U.S. house music stalwart Armand van Helden, New York-based house producer Jai Wolf and U.K. bass/trap champ TroyBoi will headline. The three-day fest takes place poolside at three beautiful desert aesthetic hotels: The Renaissance, The Riviera and The Saguaro.

The rest of the lineup offers an equally impressive and diverse group of electronic artists, including GRAMMY nominees Jax Jones and Dirty South, along with Pete Tong, A-Track, CRAY and more. Shiba San, Dusky, Kidnap and a few others will keep the vibes going into the nighttime, with official after-hours shows at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Daytime tickets for the June edition of Splash House went quickly, but they can be requested via a ticket exchange program. More info on all options can be found on Splash House's website.

Bonnaroo | June 13–16 | Manchester, Tenn.

Founded in 2002, this down-south outdoor fest once specialized in all things folk and jam. Nowadays, the lineup's diversified a bit, welcoming artists of nearly every popular genre. This year's Bonnaroo will take place June 13–16 at Great Stage Park, a 700-acre farm and event space in Manchester, Tenn., 60 miles southeast of Nashville.

The diverse group of artists on Friday alone include Phish, Childish Gambino, Solange, The Avett Brothers, Brockhampton, Courtney Barnett, Gojira, K.Flay and more. Post Malone, Odesza, Kacey Musgraves, The National, ZHU, John Prine, Maren Morris, The Lumineers, Cardi B and more will also get the farm grooving.

New for 2019, Bonnaroo will feature a "Sanctuary of Self-Love" campground experience curated by Paramore's Hayley Williams. There will also be circus acts, immersive cinema shows, theme parties, and the fest's first-ever Pride parade.

Tickets can be found on the festival's website.

GRAMMYs at Coachella: Sofi Tukker On Crafting Their "Ideal" Coachella Set, Giving Hugs To Maggie Rogers & More

Ruido Fest | Jun 21–23 | Chicago

For three days, Ruido Fest takes over Union Park, also home to Pitchfork Fest, and turns Chicago into a Latin alternative music mecca. This year, the music festival happening June 21– 23 celebrates its 5th edition and will gather iconic music groups like El Tri, Los Tigres Del Norte, Hombres G and Enanitos Verdes on the same stages as rising stars like Latin urban artist Tomasa Del Real, Helado Negro, Monsieur Perine and many more. From rock, to pop and electro, this festival boasts some of the best in established and up-and coming music artists in the Latin genre For more information on Ruido fest, visit their website.

Firefly | June 21–23 | Dover, Del.

Firefly Music Festival, which touts itself as "the East Coast's largest music and camping festival," returns for its eighth year in The Woodlands of Dover, Del. The June fest will feature GRAMMY-nominated headliners Panic! At The Disco, Post Malone and Travis Scott. 

GRAMMY winners TLC, Vampire Weekend and Zedd, as well as GRAMMY nominees Courtney Barnett, Death Cab For Cutie, DJ Snake and Tyler, The Creator will also perform at the woodsy fest. Alison Wonderland, Brockhampton, Dashboard Confessional, GRiZ, Kygo, Gucci Mane, Jessie Reyez, Snail Mail, Walk The Moon, and Young The Giant are also on this year's bill.

Tickets, along with "glamping" options, can be purchased on Firefly's website.

JULY
 

Essence Festival | July 4–7 | New Orleans

Essence Festival returns for its 25th year of celebrating black culture in New Orleans. The music portion of the event will take place from July 4–7 at the Mercedes Benz Superdome, with billed performers like Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Pharrell Williams, Brandy, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., Big Freedia, Ledisi, Mary J. Blige and many more. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will also bring extra inspiration to the main stage on Saturday.

Four other stages at the Superdome will showcase more talented artists such as AlunaGeorge, City Girls and Normani, as well as Mase, Ginuwine and Slick Rick.

Several different music fest ticket options are available, more info here.

Essence 2018: H.E.R. Opens Up On Mystery, Musicianship & Essence Fest

Mad Cool | July 11–13 | Madrid

Mad Cool Festival's diverse musical lineups have brought out a global fan base to its home in Madrid every year since 2016. Bon Iver, Vampire Weekend and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds top the lineup on Thursday, which also features Canada's Kaytranada, La Dispute and The Hives. Friday will bring out The National and the Smashing Pumpkins as headliners, plus Madrid's own Vetusta Morla, Wolfmother and Germany's Sophie Hunger, among other exciting acts. Saturday closes off the musical celebration with The Cure, The 1975 and Greta Van Fleet.

If this lineup hasn't inspired you to experience the fest, maybe visiting the beautifully historic city of Madrid will. Single-day and three-day tickets can be found on Mad Cool's website.

Pitchfork Music Festival | July 19–21 | Chicago

The 14th annual Pitchfork Music Festival, held at Union Park in Chicago, offers an eclectic lineup perfectly embodied by its headliners: GRAMMY-nominated dancefloor-pop innovator Robyn, GRAMMY-winning godfathers of funk The Isley Brothers and GRAMMY-nominated sister trio HAIM.

The Isley Brothers, consisting of remaining members Ronald and Ernie Isley, will be celebrating 60 years as a group at the fest, bringing the funk with "special guests," Pitchfork reports. GRAMMY-winning blues and gospel icon Mavis Staples will also bring her longtime musical excellence to the three-day event.

GRAMMY-nominated hip-hop powerhouses Earl Sweatshirt, Jeremih and Pusha T, along with fellow GRAMMY nominee and electro-pop stalwart Charli XCX, are also slated to play. Several innovative '90s acts will also be performing: London-based avant-garde dream-pop group Stereolab, Scottish folk-pop band Belle & Sebastian (who will be playing their 1996 album If You're Feeling Sinister in full) and Swedish GRAMMY-nominated MC Neneh Cherry, who earned a nod for Best New Artist at the 32nd GRAMMY Awards in 1999.

The festival prides itself on highlighting emerging talent; some of the up-and-comers on the lineup are 20-year-old dream-pop artist Clairo, L.A.-based social activist/rapper JPEGMAFIA, French-Cuban electro-soul sister duo Ibeyi and 21-year-old N.Y.C. rapper Rico Nasty.

Both weekend and single-day tickets are available; visit the fest's site for more info.

Float Fest | July 20–21 | Gonzales, Texas

Billed as the "only festival in the world to combine the Texas tradition of floating the river and live music," Float Fest 2019 will feature Gucci Mane, Major Lazer, Ice Cube, Kaskade, Portugal. The Man, The Flaming Lips, Big Gigantic, Zeds Dead, Grouplove, Big Boi, Jungle and more at its new home at a private ranch on the Guadalupe River in Gonzalez, Texas.

"We're thrilled to be moving to a new city and keep the tradition of our fest going. Gonzales is known as the birthplace of Texas independence and we can't think of a better place to celebrate a festival rich in Texas traditions such as live music, floating the river, and camping," Float Fest founder Marcus Federman said.

Additional performers include G. Love & Special Sauce, Missio, St. Lucia, Houndmouth, The Floozies and more. The fest will also be partnering once again this year with local business to organize a river cleanup project. 

Tickets, including weekend and day passes, can be found on Float Fest's website.

Related: Exclusive: Lizzo On Lollapalooza, New Music & RuPaul's 'Drag Race'

Lovebox | July 12–13 | London

Chance the Rapper, Solange, Cypress Hill and 2 Chainz are among the headliners that make the U.K.'s Lovebox an international music festival with one of the most exciting lineups. Taking place in London's Gunnersbury Park, the two-day fest will also have Lizzo, Brockhampton, Action Bronson, and Kaytranada hit the stage.

The fest will also feature plenty of U.K.-based artists, including J Hus and Slowthai. For more information, visit the festival's website.

https://twitter.com/Newportfolkfest/status/1126139788556427264

2019 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT: Please welcome @TheHighWomen to this summer's Friday lineup. @newportfestsorg has made a donation on their behalf to @SheIsTheMusic. Learn more: https://t.co/H9SSWgrfQ7 pic.twitter.com/MfxrQJzC7t

— Newport Folk Fest (@Newportfolkfest) May 8, 2019

Newport Folk Festival | July 26–28 | Newport, R.I.

Newport Folk Festival returns for its 60th year to Newport, R.I., for a three-day fest. Taking place at Fort Adams State Park, Newport offers rolling lineup announcements, meaning some artists are still yet to be announced.

The genre-diverse bill is absolutely stacked: Audiences can expect sets from Maggie Rogers, Noname, Sheryl Crow, Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, Portugal. The Man, Stephen Marley and The HighWomen. The latter is a new country supergroup consisting of Amanda Shires, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby, who have yet perform together publically.

Even without the complete lineup, tickets to Newport have sold out. That said, tickets can be still requested via Newport's fan-to-fan exchange; more info here.

GRAMMYs at Newport 2018: Exclusive: Brandi Carlile On 'By The Way, I Forgive You' & "The Joke"

AUGUST
 

Lollapalooza | Aug. 1–4 | Chicago

Lollapalooza, the iconic Chicago fest held annually in the Windy City's Grant Park, always gets a long lineup of some of the biggest names in music, along with plenty of artists steadily rising to household-name status. For example, prior to dropping their major-label debut LPs this year, both Billie Eilish and Lizzo performed at the 2018 fest.

This year's flagship (organizers have launched Lollas globally now, too) event offers a diverse lineup, including GRAMMY winners Childish Gambino, Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves, Flume, Lil Wayne and H.E.R.. Janelle Monáe, The Strokes, J Balvin, Rosalía, Tame Impala and RÜFÜS DU SOL will also bring heat to the four-day fest.

For ticket information, visit Lollapalooza's website. 

Lolla 2018: Exclusive: Billie Eilish On Success, Her Radio Show & New Music

Outside Lands | Aug. 9–11 | San Francisco, Calif.

San Francisco's biggest music festival returns for its 11th year in the city's gorgeous Golden Gate Park. Outside Lands' 2019 lineup features 2019 GRAMMY winners Childish Gambino, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Lauren Daigle, Ella Mai, PJ Morton and Anderson .Paak.

This year's stellar lineup also includes earlier GRAMMY winners Twenty One Pilots, Edie Brickell, Flume, Lil Wayne, Paul Simon and Mavis Staples. GRAMMY nominees Bebe Rexha, Tierra Whack, Blink-182, Counting Crows, Hozier, the Lumineers and Bob Moses will also perform among the trees of Golden Gate Park.

Three-day tickets are currently available for the fest, while Outside Lands typically offers one-day options closer to the event.

Made In America | Aug. 31–Sept. 1 | Philadelphia

Made In America Festival, started by GRAMMY-winning rap legend JAY-Z in 2012, boasts GRAMMY nominee Travis Scott and GRAMMY winner Cardi B as this year's headliners. The two-day event will also include performances from GRAMMY winners Anderson .Paak, with The Free Nationals, James Blake and Kaskade.

61st GRAMMY Awards first-time nominees Jorja Smith and Tierra Whack are also on the bill, along with rising rappers Juice WRLD and Blueface, among others. The eighth annual festival will take place outdoors at Philly's Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and is a great way to close out a busy festival season.

Tickets and more info are available on the fest's site.

No matter your musical and venue taste, there are plenty of festivals to keep you dancing all summer long. Stay tuned to grammy.com for updates on new lineup releases, along with exclusive behind-the-scenes artist interviews from the biggest events as we approach festival season.

Tyler, The Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival 2019 Coming In November

CyHi The Prynce

CyHi The Prynce

Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images

News
CyHi The Prynce On Kanye Brainstorms, Lil Wayne cyhi-prynce-kanye-brainstorms-lil-wayne-tour-nu-africa

CyHi The Prynce On Kanye Brainstorms, Lil Wayne Tour, 'Nu Africa'

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The Atlanta rapper speaks on the music biz, owing his discovery to Beyoncé, empowering Kanye, and how his new album will change lives
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Oct 6, 2017 - 2:35 pm

CyHi The Prynce is not new to the game. The Stone Mountain, Ga., rapper's prolific decade-long career has yielded a steady flow of lyrical mixtapes, high-profile collaborations, and praise from the likes of Beyoncé and Kanye West. But with a bold, conceptual full-length debut album on the way, in a way Prynce is just getting started.

CyHi The Prynce: Writing With Kanye West

If his latest singles, "Movin' Around" featuring ScHoolBoy Q and "Nu Africa," are any indication, CyHi The Prynce's upcoming album will be impossible to ignore. While an exact release date for No Dope On Sundays is TBA, Prynce's concept of community in action is very clear. The five-time GRAMMY nominee — all five as a credited songwriter for Best Rap Song — plans to bring his Midas touch from behind-the-scenes to the main stage on his long awaited full-length debut.

In this exclusive interview with CyHi The Prynce, he speaks the truth behind the Atlanta rap industry, how he empowered West to speak his mind on hits like "New Slaves" and "I Am A God," recalls life on tour with Lil Wayne, and proclaims his love for some rather unexpected musical inspirations.

Your new album No Dope On Sundays seems like it's going to explode. Why do you feel it's going to change people's lives?
I think No Dope On Sundays is a great topic that's not just me rapping. I really wanted to be able to touch people in certain ways and touch my community in a certain way where we work on ourselves through our music. I think a lot of times when people listen to me, it's a very intimate moment. They might not have a lot of friends around or whatnot, but I wanted this concept to also be able to teach something and be able to learn something, and be able to learn from it, but also it'd be something where everybody can listen to it at once. So I put a bunch of different vibes … it's gonna reach every genre and every human being from every race, so I'm glad. I'm happy.

"Nu Africa" is bold, imaginative and fun. If you had to pick, which one of the hypotheticals in the lyrics is your favorite?
The first line: "Imagine if all the actors and athletes would go back and talk to all the ambassadors." You know what I'm sayin' … it's a lane that I feel like hasn't been tapped into and its potential hasn't been tapped into. I think there's a lot of things that me and my people are concerned about here, but there you could expedite it other places. Say in Africa where it's free [and] there's land. You could go back and tell them, 'Hey, this is what we're trying to do, we're gonna donate money, we wanna bring these resources,' and I think they'd be very inclined to it.

But I also wanted to do it in a fun way where it wasn't too heavy-handed, but also just giving them their imagination. … It's not like it's an exodus or something. It's something you can create in your own community. I feel like the Jewish community has a dope community like that, you might go to New York and they have Chinatown, you know what I mean? Just create that culture where if anyone wants to come get some culture from hip-hop or anything, you come to us and we can give you the inside scoop on it. So I think that's what the main reason for that song, and the main direction I was thinking when I made it.

Yeah, it's a real thought-starter …
I always say, "You can't tell nobody to cut their grass unless you cut your own." So a lot of times we have to also understand after we do express our differences and our concerns, how do we go back to the table and rectify them and just not just voice our opinion. That's what I like to do. I say I'm the Navy Seal of my community. The Army is those that march or those that speak out, but I'm the one who really goes and gets the job done.

Where does Atlanta sit as one of rap's capital cities now, compared to when you entered the game almost a decade ago?
Well, I think Atlanta has so much culture and you know I would like to say this — it's very touchy but I want to say it. ... You know, we don't have as many black executives or executives in Atlanta. It's just the executives are probably in New York and California and they'll fly there. So a lot of times we have to make our own executives. A lot of times that takes a lot of hard work and it takes a lot of, I would say from my culture, "penitentiary chances" — you know, where guys are doing anything to come up with this money to be able to fund their studio, to be able to market their project, to be able to do all these things. So a lot of times, people want to know why our city is flourishing because we have the hustle of doing it all ourself. So when you do it all yourself and you have different individuals you're rubbing shoulders with, and we're all into that, I think it builds up a platform that we can showcase our artists, and then other labels come down and, you know, joint venture deals and different things.

So I think in a nutshell, its just that environment of swag and talking crap and coming up with these songs and having fun. ... It's just very country but also soulful. I think that's how we keep it all together with all those different things around it that keeps the culture vibing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYZLtapl3lU/?taken-by=1cyhitheprynce

GRAMMYs

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So, Kanye told you that you owe your career to Beyoncé for telling him to sign you, but what do you feel you owe Kanye for the influence he's had on your career?
My life. I just think him just being able to teach me how to even communicate with the producers and the engineers [was so important]. Like I didn't know what reverb meant and 808s and 909s and toms ... it's just all these things that he knows and I thought most rappers don't know. But to be able to show me everything, how to put this album together, how to put these songs together and being able to communicate with the writers and the artists and the producers and the engineers, I just think that education is invaluable, like I can't put a price tag on that. I just learned so much and I'm still learning every day, so I think he's the greatest.

With the five GRAMMY nominations as a writer for Kanye songs, what do you feel he's learned from you?
At the end of the day, I think I'm a very out-of-the-box thinker. A lot of people don't know, if you listen to my mixtapes and you listen to his albums, you can tell there's a conversation going on in the studio, and that's what he likes. He likes to come in the room with different people from different walks of life and brainstorm, and that's mostly the album. Eighty percent of his albums are brainstorm. There's only 20 percent of us actually doing something. Most of it's like, the thoughts, the thoughts, the thoughts. The easy part is executing them, but the hard part is really coming up with what he wants to do.

What I like to do is challenge him, like, "Naw, you can't say new slaves. Yeah you can say I'm a God." "What you mean, you can't say that?" "Oh, you, what you wanna say, I'm a gangster?" When he said that, that was a real conversation. "What you a criminal? What, you a n*****? Like, what is it? Oh, you want to think of yourself to be the highest being, you shoot for the moon and fall among the stars." That is what we were talking about … people were in the room who were Christian and who were other different religions that were rubbed the wrong way and we had to have those conversations, so that is what I think that he got me in there for — to really cut that ice, you know what I mean, to actually get to the meat of the song and the root of the songs. I think Yeezus was the first time you probably heard that influence. ...

What hobbies do you have outside of music?
Outside of music, I'm very regular. I'm very go to the movies. I like to fish. I water my plants, I kiss my girl on the forehead, and I write. I write because I told myself if they write another bible, I want to be in it. If they write a Last Testament, my name has to come across one of them books, so that's why I'm here to write. I don’t have any other hobbies but to destroy rappers, that's my biggest hobby.

You toured with Lil Wayne earlier this summer. Any crazy memories from that tour?
We were on different schedules, and I had so much promo to do in between the dates we didn't really get to hang out like we should. But what I learned from him is he performs like it's his first show every show. I've never seen anybody do that. You're Lil Wayne, you can go in there and just swag out, he's in there like, "Wayne, it's not that serious. You're Lil Wayne. The tickets already sold here."

But it doesn't matter if it's a small venue of 20 people to a million people, he gives a show, man. I was impressed … and his voice still sounds immaculate. Like man, this guy's incredible. He doesn't get old. That's what I learned from him, the professionalism. He comes onstage and gives it every night.

You played football growing up. Who's your NFL team, and what is your pick for Super Bowl LII?
You gotta go with Tom [Brady and the New England Patriots], unfortunately. But my favorite team is … I'm from Atlanta, I like the Falcons, but I played park ball for a team called the Central Dekalb Cardinals, so I love the Arizona Cardinals.

What are three things you're inspired by right now?
I love Valerie June, I don't know if you guys ever heard of her, she's a country singer. She probably thinks I'm obsessed with her because I mention her every time somebody asks me, I just love her music.

I've been listening to a lot of '60s music, I've been trying to go into that lane.

And I love Fela Kuti. I could just listen to his music all day and just work and write raps. Those are my three inspirations right now.

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