Concert Review: 2013 Paid Dues Festival

Black Hippy
Now for the main reason I even came to this year’s festival – Black Hippy! Every true Hip-Hop fan has to admit it was TDE’s year in 2012. Kendrick Lamar arguably had the best album of the year; Ab-Soul had the best independent album in my opinion; Schoolboy Q dropped a solid album; and Jay Rock probably had one of the best verses on good kidd, m.A.A.d city. The crew came out and did the “Black Lip Bastard (Remix)”, and then “Say Wassup”. They definitely had the venue rocking for their introduction. Next, Black Hippy split up in doing solos with Jay Rock first, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, and lastly Kendrick Lamar. K. Dot probably had the loudest performance, but Schoolboy Q was right behind him overall wise. The thing that disappointed me most was the people that left during Black Hippy’s set. It must’ve been too late for the young’ns there to see Macklemore. Another thing I noticed was Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar only played music from last year. Last time I saw Kendrick, he mostly played Section.80, but this time it was strictly good kidd, m.A.A.d city. That is my only reason for not giving it an A+. The highlight of the set was “m.A.A.d city” when Kendrick brought out the entire TDE crew to perform the song.

Set List:

Black Hippy – “Black Lip Bastard (Remix)”
Black Hippy – “Say Wassup”
Jay Rock – “YOLA”
Jay Rock – “Hood Gone Love It”
Ab-Soul – “Track Two”
Ab- Soul – “Terrorist Threats”
Ab-Soul – “Pineal Gland”
Ab-Soul – “Bohemian Groove”
Ab-Soul & Schoolboy Q – “Druggys Wit Hoes Again”
Schoolboy Q – “There He Go”
Schoolboy Q – “Hands on the Wheel”
Schoolboy Q – “Yay Yay”
Kendrick Lamar – “Backseat Freestyle”
Kendrick Lamar – “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”
Kendrick Lamar – “Swimming Pools (Drank)”
Kendrick Lamar – “Poetic Justice”
Kendrick Lamar & Jay Rock – “Money Trees”
Kendrick Lamar & TDE – “m.A.A.d city”
Black Hippy – “Cartoon & Cereal”

Overall Grade: A