Lyrical Lemonade and SPKRBX’s ‘Summer Smash’ is set to take off this Friday, August 20th in Chicago’s Douglass Park.
This festival is being put on for its third year now (2018/2019) and each year the talent has evolved to create an increasingly jaw-dropping lineup for any hip-hop fan.
Set times were recently released within the official ‘Summer Smash’ app; artists will be performing on three stages throughout the three days.
Check out 12 artists that are poised to impress at this year’s ‘Summer Smash’!
Frankie’s Picks:
Teezo Touchdown
Friday – SPKRBX Stage – 5:05-5:25
Whether it be winning the inaugural “Yammy” at Yams Day ’21 or his hilarious appearance on the most recent episode of Kenny Beats’ “The Cave”, Teezo Touchdown seems to be an inescapable name in the music underground this year; he’s truly a force to be reckoned with. His eclectic range of influences blend to produce an entertaining yet profoundly deep listening experience. ‘Summer Smash’ will be Teezo’s first Chicago show as well as his first festival performance.
Glaive
Friday – Lenny’s Tent Stage – 7:10-7:30
Similar to Teezo this is also hyperpop/glitchpop newcomer Glaive’s first performance on a Chicago stage. While his music and persona may come across as inaccessible to some, Glaive has been dominating the scene this year and I have no doubt he will be dominating the charts in just a few years’ time. If you’ve seen Glaive’s clips on Instagram, it’s evident that he’s a wild performer. Glaive recently released his newest EP “all dogs go to heaven” just this week, so make sure you check that out before you head to his set this weekend.
BabySantana
Friday – SPKRBX Stage – 5:25-5:45
14-year-old prodigy BabySantana has skyrocketed in popularity as of recent through tracks like “Antisocial” and “Antisocial 2”. BabySantana seems to be the quintessential representation of the current hip-hop underground… his age is a clear indication of limitless potential.
Ken Car$on
Sunday – Lyrical Lemonade Stage – 2:10-2:55
Ken Car$on is another underground newcomer that’s on the top of his game at the moment. Ken recently released his highly anticipated ‘Project X’ album last month that had no features; the effort is seemingly doing incredibly well with his fans and the hip-hop community as a whole. Ken’s also signed to Playboi Carti’s label Opium which essentially makes him one of the few artists that’s able to capture the essence of Carti’s live shows. If you were able to catch and enjoy Carti’s performance at Lollapalooza I would definitely find time to check out Ken Car$on.
Dro Kenji
Sunday – Lenny’s Tent Stage – 4:55-5:15
Dro Kenji’s ‘EAT YOUR HEART OUT’ is genuinely one of my favorite projects of the year. Dro does an excellent job at playing into the emotive side of the new generation that artists like XXXTentacion and JuiceWRLD were able to do so well. His close connection with the Internet Money team is evident through his work ethic as he just dropped his fourth album in a years’ time. Kenji is also skewed to be an excellent live performer so I’m personally excited to see what he can do in a festival setting.
Goldenboymnny
Friday – Lenny’s Tent Stage – 3:40-3:55
Goldenboymnny is a new name in Chicago music and while I originally was not familiar with his name when the lineup dropped, I was given an introduction through his appearance as an opener to Duffle Bag Buru’s recent Schubas performance last month. I was extremely happy with his performance through his energy and crowd engagement. His new project ‘Bet On Me’ produced by Chicago producers 5heriff, ceobeatz, and Ra has lots of great tracks. If you have time, I’d definitely check out his set.
Jack’s Picks:
Supa Bwe
Friday – SPKRBX Stage – 4:25-4:45
SSSUUUUPPPPPAAAAAAAAA!!! It’s great to see LL and SPKRBX pay so much homage to the city by billing many Chicago-based acts; Supa Bwe is a perfect representation of our hip-hop scene here in the city. I’ve had the pleasure of watching Supa perform several times across the years and I’m here to inform you that few artists will go further to ensure their set is energetic and unforgettable for each fan in attendance. Tracks such as “i hate being alive” and “LOOK” (feat. Qari) always go crazy in a live setting.
Femdot
Friday – Lyrical Lemonade Stage – 4:45-5:05
Femdot is a gem of an artist that has been releasing impressive bodies of work for several years now. Fem is another hometown hero and his raw talent will ensure a quality set every time he blesses the stage. If you need any more reason to see Femdot, he’s also founded ‘Delacreme Scholars’, which is based around “investing into the education and well-being of communities of color domestically and abroad.” Shoutout Fem.
Joey Purp
Saturday – Lyrical Lemonade Stage – 3:25-3:45
Joey Purp has been releasing quality music for the full extent of his career so far. I was initially familiarized with Joey through early collaboration with his SaveMoney co-members but over the last several years, Joey has stepped into the spotlight as an outstanding individual artist. His braggadocious rapping style has been showcased over a range of production throughout his discography and I really can’t wait to see what’s next from the creative.
Qari
Saturday – SPKRBX Stage – 1:55-2:10
Although Qari may be best known to some as an important part of the Chicago-based group Hurt Everybody, his solo work is definitely worth a listen due to its intricacies and precision. Qari’s ability to jam-pack so much information and emotion into his verses is an aspect of his music that truly sets him apart from the rest of the crowd. You can tell that Qari chooses his words carefully; he’s confident in every single line he offers. Look out for one of the best upcoming artists in the city.
Lucki
Sunday – Lyrical Lemonade Stage – 4:45-5:05
Lucki once described his shows as “doped out poetry jams” and I can’t think of a better way to encapsulate the experience provided at his live performances. I’ve been fortunate enough to both watch and photograph several Lucki shows and each one seems to hold a unique energy. I figure Lucki’s hard-hitting music and his die-hard Chicago-based fans will come together to produce a memorable set.
Warhol.ss
Sunday – Lenny’s Tent Stage – 4:20-4:40
I can remember Cole Bennett tweeting an open call in the summer of ’16 for Warhol.ss fans to pop out for the filming of the “Speed Racer” music video. Since 2016, this music video has racked up over 3 million plays. Warhol.ss’ boastful and aggressive music style will surely turn heads at this year’s ‘Summer Smash’ as it did at the North Coast Music Festival a few years back. Tracks like “Speed Racer” and “On My Waist” (feat. Famous Dex) introduced me to the young artist and ever since, I’ve been a fan. Warhol.ss’ immaculate production paired with his intense vocal style will make for an energetic set.
