On Wednesday (March 15) night, VIBE and Def Jam Records hit Austin, Texas for its Hip-Hop’s Next & Now SXSW Showcase, sponsored by event partner SAG-AFTRA and featuring high-powered performances. Comprised of Def Jam artists old and new, the showcase was headlined by Jadakiss, with supporting sets from Armani White, SwaVay, Lil Migo, Pap Chanel, Marqus Clae, and D-Sturdy and the Philly Goats. Surprise appearances from rap pioneer Kurtis Blow, veteran rhymer Papoose, singer/actor Rotimi, and others helped make it even more of an event to remember, with various generations of Hip-Hop represented throughout the night.
As much as the artists, musicians, DJs, and dancers who take the stage during a concert make a great show, its the people in the audience who spend their time and hard-earned money to create the vibe that brings all of those moving parts together. Lending their own energy and mood to the ambiance, these fans often help dictate the overall experience and serve as the litmus test of whether a performance was well-received.
The “Hip-Hop’s Next & Now” showcase was no exception, as the public’s support helped make the concert a hearty atmosphere filled with plenty of smiles, dancing, applause, and shrieks of joy. Following the showcase, VIBE spoke with a few faces in the crowd about their favorite moments from the evening that left a lasting impression on them.
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Ashley From Austin, Texas
Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images for VIBE x Def Jam Recordings “Seeing Jadakiss was rad, I really liked that. The venue was good and just the vibes. The vibe in there was really wonderful, the people and the music. I had never seen Jadakiss live [before] so that’s what was up.”
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Sophia From New York, New York
Image Credit: Christopher Polk “My favorite moment was when everybody was singing along with Armani White and just having a good time.”
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Alize From Somewhere In Indiana
Image Credit: Laetitia Mumford “I was very shocked that Papoose came out, which was nice. It was historical.”
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Nat From London, U.K.
Image Credit: Christopher Polk “I liked the energy of all of the performers and the room and I thought it was just a really great stage and platform and showcased the talent at SXSW.”
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Patrick From Unknown
Image Credit: Laetitia Mumford “My favorite part of the show was Papoose coming out, too. I mean, Jadakiss, to me, performed better, but Papoose, we just didn’t expect him and he’s a legend. So, he got us real excited.”
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Jordan From Austin, Texas
Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images for VIBE x Def Jam Recordings “Probably SwaVay. I liked him, he was really good.”
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Alex From Boston, Massachusetts
Image Credit: Laetitia Mumford “I was not expecting Papoose to come out. I literally lost my sh*t on that. That was unbelievable.”
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Austin From Austin, Texas
Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images for VIBE x Def Jam Recordings “I saw Lil Migo, Armani White, Jadakiss. It was f**king good, bro. You already know [the best part] was Jadakiss. He brought that f**king old soul sh*t.”