SOUNDSET 2014: PHOTOS & REVIEW

Photography by Khammy Phanthavong

Words by Ryan Reyes

Over 30,000 eager hip hop fans descended on Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota for the 7th annual Soundset Festival. The bill was diverse: ranging from Minnesota-based artists such as Atmosphere, Prof, deM atlaS, Lizzo and Lazerbeak to up and comers Chance The Rapper, Ab-Soul, Snow Tha Product, Rapsody and Shad.

But there were also headliners from out of state: 2 Chainz wore only 1 chain; albeit it was massive and diamond-encrusted. But a one-hit wonder he ain’t. “Bandz a Make Her Dance,” “Birthday Song” and “I’m Different” were highlights. The crowd clearly loved his set. Some ladies loved it so much that they flashed him quite liberally. One woman made him exclaim “Damn, those are some big ones, some double G’s, double Gucci’s!”

Nas was a treat for old school heads like myself. He truly felt the love from the sea of people assembled before him, stating, “This shit is beautiful.” He performed tracks off his iconic Illmatic album which celebrated it’s 20^th anniversary this year and finished off his set with classics such as “Street Dreams,” “If I Ruled The World” and “Made You Look.”

Wiz Khalifa arrived at Soundset on time. Festival-goers were nervous to hear via Twitter that he was arrested on marijuana charges in Texas the morning of the festival but he was able to post bail and charter a jet (the high life). Fitting for everyone’s favorite weed-rapper. The crowd went crazy during hits “Young, Wild & Free,” “We Dem Boyz” and his set-closing Pittsburgh anthem “Black and Yellow.”

Everything came together nicely for Soundset in 2014: A sold out festival, cooperative weather, and an excellent lineup. Much respect goes out to Rhymesayers Entertainment and Rose Presents. They could turn Soundset into a two-day festival next year. This once little festival is all grown up!