On the weekend of August 8th and 9th, Eleanor Tinsley Park in Houston will be host to the Annual Free Press Summer Fest. While much has been written of the indie rock line-up of this outdoor festival, I haven’t seen a lot of information about the really respectable set of hip-hop artists featured this year. In an attempt to even out the coverage, I’ll give you a preview of some of these artists - and if you’re in Austin and want to go to the fest, KOOP is giving away tickets all week.
:Prince Paul - The Monolith: Prince Paul has been around a long time. Know primarily as a producer, and working since 1989 with such hip hop royalty as 3rd Bass and De La Soul, his eclectic beats can be modern, edgy, or that old boom-bap. He’s also one of the members of the Gravediggaz, which is kind of an underground hip-hop supergroup. In the unreleased track above from Hip Hop Gold Dust (2005) he demonstrates that he has the skills to rhyme as well. Prince Paul is also one half of the production duo that makes up Handsome Boy Modeling School, along with Dan the Automator. His show time is Sunday at 4:50 on Stage 1. :Devin The Dude - Doobie Ashtray: While Houston’s own Devin the Dude has been working since 1992 and has built enough respect in the underground to headline this show, but he’s never achieved the kind of mainstream success that he seemed to be reaching for. His style is characterized by a slow, drowsy flow and wordplay. The track here is Devin bemoaning the loss of his drug of choice, but don’t worry - it has a happy ending. He’s on Stage 1 on Sunday at 7:20. :Perseph One - Cue Bueno: I first saw Perseph One when she performed at the Scoot Inn Ladies’ Night a couple months ago and she blew me away. She’s one part Sage-Francis-bitter-aggression and two parts Aesop-Rock-word-labyrinth. Cue Bueno is an angry tangled flower of a track from her avant 2007 album Eartha Spitts and she’s one of the artists I’m really excited to see at the Free Press Summer Fest. She goes on Stage 2 at 12:50 on Saturday. :Fat Tony - Love Life (Dave Wrangler Remix): Fat Tony is a Houston-based rapper and promoter who may be best known from his involvement with hip-hop group The Low Ends. His solo career has been well-received critically and this track demonstrates the wide pop appeal of his lone solo release so far, The Love Life EP. He’s scheduled to drop his first full length, RABDARGAB, sometime in the next few months. He’s playing a little after 3 PM on Stage 1 on the first day of the Fest.
- Leah Manners
-
|
