With Wu-Tang Clan having played only a few days ago, hip-hop heads at Bluesfest got to check a few more emcees off their bucket list on day six.
Down at the River Stage, Atlanta native Killer Mike was delivering raw, edgy rhymes. On stage with only a DJ, he was quick to acknowledge the crowd’s level of excitement.
“I’m all swagged up like Soulja Boy,” he exclaimed. “I ain’t never dance like this!”
Moving around, throwing his hands up, and engaging the crowd in a bit of call-and-response, it wasn’t long until Mike brought out his friend and recent collaborator El-P, a rapper/producer from Brooklyn.
The two then proceeded to don glittering chains and perform a number of songs from their recently released collaborative LP Run the Jewels. In what was his final song of the evening, Mike proceeded to jump over the front barrier of the stage to share one last moment with the audience, all while rapping an a cappella freestyle.
El-P played a proper set of his own soon after, and was just as impressive, bringing a battery of musicians to back him up. Among the instrumentalists were both an electric guitar and keytar player.
“If there is one thing I can be remembered for,” he joked, “It should be that I brought the keytar back to rap.”
After two very enjoyable sets, I made my way to the Bell Stage to catch Weezer. Having missed them at Bluesfest two years ago, I was more than happy to make up for that on day six.
