![]() Ski Mask performed a few of XXXTentacion’s hits, including “Sad!”, to honor the late rapper and friend. He was the first performer of the weekend to fill up the massive SeatGeek stadium. Up next on the Culture Kings stage was Ski Mask the Slump God. The crowd was immediately reignited, and everyone had a blast for the rest of the set. “We didn’t stop for 10 minutes not to turn the fuck up,” he yelled. Once the crowd had settled down, G Herbo reemerged from backstage with a red solo cup in hand. The audience’s excitement did not go unnoticed by security, who paused the set at one point and told everyone to take five steps back. G Herbo is a Chicago native, and his local fan base showed up with full force. Riding that high, I decided to migrate with the crowd over to G Herbo’s set at the main stage. The festival’s ability to provide a large platform for up-and-coming artists to share their music is what makes it so unique. I was unfamiliar with his music, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying watching the crowd freak out over every song. Despite being at the smallest stage on the grounds, Lil Tracy undoubtedly attracted the rowdiest crowd of the festival. I started my day by heading straight to the Zig Zag tent to see Lil Tracy’s set. The number of attendees seemed to have doubled, and the overall energy had increased exponentially. This final set of the night ended the day on a high note and set the tone for the rest of the festival.Īrriving at the festival on Saturday, I felt like I was at a completely different event from the day before. Instead of dancing and moshing, most of the crowd enjoyed the music while lounging on a blanket. In contrast to the previous performances, this set was much more mellow. When Cudi began one of his early classics “A Kid Named Cudi,” a loud roar of excitement ripped through the crowd, suggesting that there were many longtime Cudi fans in attendance. He captivated the audience with a raw, emotional performance as he took us on a journey through his discography. Kid Cudi, the headliner of the night, ushered in a sudden, but welcome, shift in the mood previously set by the $uicideboy$. The duo’s southern rap influences, combined with horrorcore and grim themes, created a dark and somewhat unsettling atmosphere distinct from all other artists on the lineup. The second the duo stepped onstage, the crowd erupted, sending a 5-foot-long inflatable joint and giant slices of Bacci pizza soaring through the air. The next set was Friday’s special guest $uicideboy$, a hip-hop duo consisting of cousins Ruby da Cherry and $crim. The sheer quantity of art ensured that no matter where you were on the grounds, there was always something interesting to look at. Circus performers roamed the grounds, and there was even a live spray-painting exhibit. The festival featured carnival games and a minion-themed Ferris wheel. The decorations and attractions were true to the carnival theme and featured cartoons from Lyrical Lemonade’s NFT collection. Performing hits like “Coffin” and “Poland,” Lil Yachty turned the energy up to 11 and made the stage his own.Īfter Lil Yachty’s set, I took a moment to survey the festival grounds as the sounds of “Gucci Gang” reverberated from Lil Pump’s set at the Zig Zag tent. Leave it to Lyrical Lemonade to turn a potential disaster into an exciting surprise. “Oh my god, it’s Lil Yachty!” yelled a kid in a basketball jersey as he sprinted to join the ever-growing crowd accumulating to watch the performance. ![]() With my interest piqued, I squeezed my way through the giant inflatable Lyrical Lemonade cartons that were scattered across the turf to find out which artist was causing an uproar. ![]() After trending rapper Ice Spice unexpectedly dropped out just one day before the festival, we had all wondered who would take her place. Upon entering the festival grounds, I immediately noticed swaths of fans sprinting full speed across the field toward the main stage. With new art installations and more vendors than ever before, it was clear that Summer Smash 2023 would be an unmissable event for anyone interested in delving into Chicago’s rap culture. This year, the festival upgraded their venue from Chicago’s Douglass Park to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview to accommodate the event’s growing popularity. The festival is jointly hosted by two Chicago-based media companies: production company Lyrical Lemonade and festival production company SPKRBX. This year’s lineup boasted a star-studded roster including Kid Cudi, Lil Uzi Vert, Future, Playboi Carti, and others. ![]() Summer Smash, the largest independent hip-hop festival in the US, returned to Chicago on June 23 for their fifth annual festival.
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