Despite the forecast that called for a shift from the above average temperatures California had been experiencing, the heat was on at the sixth annual Paid Dues festival at San Bernadino’s NOS Event Center.
Guerilla Union, in conjunction with veteran West Coast legend Murs has been putting together the annual event in hopes to showcase some of the brightest stars in the underground sector and this year was no different, however it was better and bigger with 11,000+ individuals present–which was almost more than half of what they had last year.
The eclectic lineup was a mix of cult classics in the form of legends E-40, Bun B, Murs and Black Star–Mos Def and Talib Kweli, and those with cult like followings notably Lil B The Based God. The lineup also featured artists coming out with huge underground followings: Slaughterhouse, Dom Kennedy, Skeme, Droop-E, Casey Veggies, Asher Roth and Nottz, Eternia, The Black Hippie Collective made up of Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, and School Boy Q, and etc.
This year, Paid Dues was more than just a festival promoting music, but also Murs and Guerilla Union partnered up with Habitat for Humanity of Great Los Angeles to launch a campaign merging hip-hop and philanthropy. The aim of The Paid Dues Habitat for Humanity Project is to reach out to the music community and raise funds and awareness to help eliminate and fight back against substandard housing.
Divided into three stages–Paid Dues Stage where most of the headliners were, The Dues Paid stage which featured artists coming out of California and The Grindtime stage which featured battles, Paid Dues had something to offer everyone, however, The Dues Paid Stage was my personal favorite. The stage was full of talent but there was some key highlights.
The first highlight would definitely have the be the first performance of the day in the form of Noa James, an emcee coming out of California, who actually through votes online and offline got a chance to perform at the show. His set was interesting to say the least as he took off his shirt and lyrically had rather visual words in his songs. Watching his set it became pretty evident why he got a chance to perform–he has a raw talent and an energy that would be appreciated by Paid Dues concert goers. Through James’ performance he was able to get the crowd hype which was continued throughout the show.
Skeme’s set was another definite highlight at the Dues Paid Stage. Skeme’s set consisted of music from his latest project Pistols and Palm Trees, as well as songs from his upcoming project The Statement which will be dropping later this month. One thing that was clear based on his set is that people truly and honestly love his music. Everyone in the crowd was just as hyped as he was while he performed with theie hands in the air all through his whole set which was a reflection of the contrasting sides of Los Angeles–the gritty and the superficial meshing the two worlds together to perfection. Another thing that was much respected in Skeme’s set is the unison that was shown with his crew that was on stage with him. Everyone had on matching t-shirts promoting Skeme’s upcoming project The Statement.
The next artist up to preform was half of U-N-I Thurzday. During his set, Thurzday promoted himself as a solo artist, performing songs from his upcoming project The 1992 Riots (?) which made many question where’s Y-O. When we got the chance to ask him later he retorted, “Y-O’s on his solo ish” making many believe U-N-I is more like U-N now, and finished. Despite that confusing aspect, Thurzday definitely gave a cool show, as his on stage hypeman Faahz beat-boxed Lil Wayne’s “6’7″ on stage which you can see courtesy this youtube link here.
Dom Kennedy’s set was another highlight–one thing that is definitely clear about Kennedy is that more than having Leimert Park on his back, he definitely has the whole state of California and beyond on his back–people love him. When he performed everyone was rapping along, dancing or nodding–no exaggeration, everyone. Kennedy performed songs from all over his discography, “Watermelon Sundae” ft. J.Skillz, from 25th Hour, and music from From The Westside With Love, and his latest original The Original Dom Kennedy. Kennedy made way for Black Hippy Collective–Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and School Boy Q, another group of individuals who are taking California hip-hop over. Their set was a fan favorite–everyone seemed to be in awe of these talented bunch.
Next was veteran Shock G and the infamous plastic noise–which turned him into his alter-ego Humpty Hump. As a vital part of the evolution of West Coast Hip-hop, Shock G showed exactly why he’s a legend–playing original Digital Underground music on the piano and playing a tribute to Tupac on the piano which ironically, Tupac was in attendance–not really but a man who was dressed like Tupac for whatever reason. After Shock G’s performance everyone started to chant “BASEDGOD! BASEDGOD!” awaiting their chance to see the odd phenomena that is Lil B’ The Based God. Everyone acted like he was the second coming of Christ, as he came on the stage and everyone started cooking. Lil B has become popular due to the emergence of social media, and his first song he performed spoke about social media, and the internet. During Lil B’s set, he performed “Ellen DeGenres” and “Hoes on My D*ck” which made the crowd really hyped. He then performed “Based To Your Face” and producer 9th Wonder (produced the track) walked on the stage and gave a shoutout to Lil B during his own performance–a little strange, which led to another strange moment, a performance where Lil B essentially states how he’s a prolific rapper because he made this emo beat in his room when he was depressed. Despite those Odd moments, Lil B’s an interesting fellow–and its become perfectly clear why he is having a project with Jay Electronica coming out soon–he’s entertaining and has an undeniable presence whether you like him or not.
Slaughterhouse at the Grindtime Now Stage was a definite highlight–bringing out the true essence of hip-hop with a live like always performance. Their set was essentially what you’d expect from a hip-hop group with dope emcees–Joe Budden, Royce Da 5’9, Crooked-I and Joell Oritz–lyrical, and like you yourself, were in the birthplace of hip-hop witnessing a grimy freestyle battle. While Bun B’s performance at the Paid Dues stage made you feel as if you were rolling in your Cadillac in the middle of the South someplace. During Bun B’s set, everyone was very into it with people walking to find places dancing, people rapping with their hands, and pretty girls dancing saying “This is my song.” His set covered a lot of classics, and Bun B definitely held it down for his deceased counterpart Pimp C during his set. We also learned that Bun B has started a new label devoted to underground hip-hop coming out of the West Coast which is only fitting since that’s where the festival was, and we have such great music coming out of the area which was reflected with the festival.
Overall, Guerilla Union and Murs definitely put on a great event. It was a great lineup, a great venue and a great crowd–with no issues minus a random guy peeing on a fence in public. Make sure next year you attend the festival, also make sure to check out all of the artists on the line-up, they are all true testaments to where hip-hop is evolving to.
