About Music Giants

About Music Giants

The Best US Hip Hop Festivals in Spring 2020

Hip hop is one of music’s greatest gifts and has been blowing our minds through lyrical expression, artistry and cultural influences since it first emerged from the Bronx scene in the 1970s. Today it’s one of the most prevailing music genres in existence, and although summer may be quite far off – you don’t need to wait long for the chance to hear your favorite artists and rap ensembles heating up the stages this spring.

We thought we’d help out a bit and narrow down 10 of the best hip hop festivals coming up over the next few months, of which are renowned for providing crowds with exciting and diverse lineups in hip hop, rap, grime, EDM and similar genres.

South by Southwest (SXSW) // March 13-22 // Austin, Texas

The famous Atlantic brewery SweetWater is the founder of this annual Earth Day celebration. It takes place at the Centennial Olympic Park in Georgia and is spread across 3 days. It’s also another festival highly encouraged by the unique flavors of hip hop music, as well as rock, indie, blues, jazz and alternative styles. If you’re someone who is passionate about raising awareness of the environment, and wants to hear fantastic live acts and bands complete with great-tasting beer – SweetWater 420 certainly kicks off the spring action nicely.  

III Points // May 1-2 // Miami, Florida

The famous Atlantic brewery SweetWater is the founder of this annual Earth Day celebration. It takes place at the Centennial Olympic Park in Georgia and is spread across 3 days. It’s also another festival highly encouraged by the unique flavors of hip hop music, as well as rock, indie, blues, jazz and alternative styles. If you’re someone who is passionate about raising awareness of the environment, and wants to hear fantastic live acts and bands complete with great-tasting beer – SweetWater 420 certainly kicks off the spring action nicely.  

III Points // May 1-2 // Miami, Florida

Set in the heart of Miami, Florida the III Points Festival is a festival that swears by “shelving the bullshit and focusing on the experience at hand” – and that’s exactly what you’re gonna get if you go. It’s into its 6th year running and sports a diverse roster of A-grade talent from all various states. Last year saw big boys like A$AP Rocky, SZA and Tyler the Creator grace the stages, in between infusions of hip hop acts, rap, rnb, rock, indie, alternative and modern electronic. The festival is also centered on light shows and visual art installations, adding a real magic touch to the performances.

Soundset 2020 // May 3 // St. Paul, Minnesota

Soundset has been a bucket list hangout for hip hop lovers and hard rap fans across over a decade. Last years’ event saw a fine blend of both fresh blood and highly-acclaimed artists like DMX, Lil Wayne, G-Eazy, Run the Jewels and Tech N9ne; each delivering their own dose of beat and lyrical fire across 5 stages. There are plenty of creative workshops that take place at the festival, including skateboarding and dance comps, graffiti, and a great selection of food and drinks available to keep your energy up for the full 24 hours. Watch this space for more info and for the 2020’s lineup announcement!

Rolling Loud Miami // May 8-10 // Miami, Florida

Rolling Loud is inarguably one of the most prestigious hip hop events in the world, and brings to it more than 140 artists to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami every year. Last year saw appearances from acts like Travis Scott, Young Thug, Lil B, Post Malone, Kendrick Lamar and lots more, however, last year was a bit of an unfortunate disaster for Rolling Loud when they experienced a gun scare, crowd fights, and poor organization for getting in and out of the festival. Hopefully they’ll have prepared better this time around because nevertheless, it truly is an awesome 2-day party with great music, and one where you’re bound to have tons of fun.

Last Leg

 While we might be recovering from Christmas bankruptcy and shaking off the cold for the next few months, now is a great time to order those earplugs, rain boots and a non-puke-covered pop up tent to see you through the festival season. With so many awesome options well worthy of your paycheck this spring, it can be tough deciding where you’re likely to hear the best artists, sound systems, and make the most memories – but you can safely visit any of the above with the guarantee that you’re gonna spend the next few days having a ball. We’ll hopefully see you at some ourselves!

DMCA.com Protection Status

Amazon Associates Disclaimer
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

Different types of DJ equipment

DJ Headphoes

You can’t DJ properly if you can’t hear what you’re doing or gauge what the audience is hearing. This is why a top-class pair of headphones is essential in any DJ setup. There are hundreds of great headphones on the market, but what you need to factor in when buying is whether they will be in-ear or over-ear, the cup size, orientation, comfort, and durability, among other things.

Different types of DJ equipment

speakers

 If you haven’t got some already and need to add speakers to your shopping list, you’ll want to avoid cheap brands and opt for some which are powerful but suitable for your DJing environment. You wouldn’t go out and buy a huge PA system if you live in a cupboard under the stairs, and you wouldn’t invest in some tiny desk speakers if you are mixing in a large room with thick walls and high ceilings. A set of speakers that fit somewhere in the middle is best.

Different types of DJ equipment

DJ Software

If you’re looking to play solely digital, you’re going to want to invest in some good software. Some DJs who play from USB still do not use software, but the truth is, it can seriously help you stay organized. Software not only allows you to prepare your tracks into neat and tidy playlists, but it also detects the BPM and key of all your tunes, lets you set hot cues, make loops, mashups, and other really cool stuff that wouldn’t be possible if you simply stuck all your tunes on a USB stick or burned them to CD. If you’re just starting out as a DJ, there’s no question that using a high-quality software program will make mixing easier and your sets sound better.

Different types of DJ equipment

Controllers

 DJ controllers are highly convenient because they are an all-in-one setup that you can carry around with you, then plug in and play right off the bat. They also eliminate the need to spend thousands on individual pieces of gear. There are many different types of DJ controllers that are ideal for beginners, each with different functions, personalities, and more. Some are fantastic for multi-deck mixing, changing the volume, tempo, track settings, looping, panning, playing drum pads, and even scratching.

Different types of DJ equipment

mixers

For any analog DJ setup, a mixer is an essential bit of kit. Besides being used to make seamless transitions from one song to another, they also have a wide range of other functions. The crossfader can be used to make epic scratch performances, while the vertical sliders control the volume levels, panning, and can be used in conjunction with effects. They also act as a soundcard to process the music signal you’re sending out to your audience, and let you cue up your next track in your headphones while the current song is playing.

Different types of DJ equipment

Turntables

As mentioned, mixing on turntables is the classic way of DJing, and even some digital DJs still have a vinyl player or two in their repertoire. Turntables are ideal for those who want to get into scratching. They also allow you to switch between songs and albums, slow down tempos, alter the pitch, and do other creative tricks. While laptops and digital DJ setups are the most popular in this day in age, we still recommend learning how to mix on vinyl, even if you don’t plan to buy turntables or use them in your setup. The saying is true – if you can play on wax, you can play on anything.