WKNC’s Fridays on the Lawn concert series has been bringing local music to NC State’s campus for years, but it’s mostly been indie rock. To ignore a whole scene that’s been making major moves in the Triangle for the past couple years would be a shame. So this Friday, WKNC will hold its first FOTL focused on local hip-hop in a while. The lineup includes up-and-comer Freedom Infinite, the eclectic Vanilla the Hun and the crowd-pleasing Defacto Thezpian.
The three acts were chosen because of their diverse sounds. Freedom Infinite uses a trap rhyme scheme that holds up with traditional hip-hop sound. Vanilla the Hun is making music unlike anything else on the scene, with a fusion of funk, rock and hip-hop. The headliner, Defacto Thezpian, is one of the most charismatic underground rappers in the Triangle. He has a background in theater, which mixed with his smooth delivery, creates an experience for the audience rather than just an emcee spitting rhymes.
Fridays on the Lawn will be held on Harris Field in front of Witherspoon Student Center from 5–7 p.m. Admission will be free and food will be catered by Neomonde. Come and enjoy some nice weather and an opportunity to hear some extra dope local music.
DJ Iron Mic talked with Defacto Thezpian during Wednesday’s local rap lunch to preview his performance this Friday, April 8 for WKNC’s Fridays on the Lawn. Listen it to their interview to learn about some of Defacto’s other upcoming gigs, including Durham’s Art of Cool Fest, and his top four celebrity crushes.
The series began on March 26 at All Day Records in Carrboro with a DJ set by Oli Isaacs and promotional giveaways. On March 31, Carolina Soul will host a listening party of Moogfest artists.
Moogfest will take part in Schoolkids Records massive Record Store Day celebration on April 16 with in store promos and activations at the store’s locations in Raleigh and Durham. The series concludes back in Durham at Bull City Records on April 21 with a very special DJ set by Nick Sanborn of Made of Oak and Sylvan Esso as well as other area DJ’s.
At all locations, students will have the opportunity to purchase $99 student tickets with valid student ID.
Dates & Locations
3.26 – All Day Records – Carrboro, NC, 12-3pm
3.31 – Carolina Soul – Durham, NC, 5-8pm
4.16 – Schoolkids Records (Record Store Day Parties) – Durham & Raleigh, NC, 8am-8pm
4.21 – Bull City Records – Durham, NC, 6pm-8pm
About Moogfest
Moogfest is the synthesis of music, art, and technology. Since 2004, Moogfest has brought together artists, futurist thinkers, inventors, entrepreneurs, designers, engineers, scientists, and musicians. By day, Moogfest is a platform for conversation and experimentation. This mind-expanding conference attracts creative and technology enthusiasts for three days of participatory programming in Durham, North Carolina. By night, Moogfest presents cutting-edge music in venues throughout the city. Performing artists include early pioneers in electronic music, alongside pop and avant-garde experimentalists of today.
Chill Moody – November Funk $ave Dat Money – Lil Dicky feat. Fetty Wap Ready – Chaz French feat. Goldlink The Pessimist – Wale feat. J. Cole Shards – GRRL Antidote – Travis Scott Clearest Blue – CHVRCHES L$D – A$AP Rocky New Level – A$AP Ferg feat. Future The Waters – Anderson .Paak feat. BJ the Chicago Kid Who Dey Rockin Wit – Trae tha Truth feat. Yo Gotti Law – Yo Gotti feat. E-40 Top – Lil Uzi Vert Bounce – Flatbush Zombies Victory Laps – Doomstarks Ready or Not – Fugees Where U Been? – 2 Chainz feat. Cap 1 Live at the Barbecue – Main Source feat. Nas We Takin Over – DJ Khaled feat. T.I., Fat Joe, Akon, Lil Wayne, & Birdman N.Y. State of Mind – Nas Lonely Cities – Tigertown I Wanna Be Your Dog – The Stooges Changes – Charles Bradley 2 Phones – Kevin Gates The Seed 2.0 – The Roots feat. Cody Chestnut O.P.P. – Naughty by Nature Lights On – Big Grams ATLiens – Outkast Blow the Whistle – Too $hort Ready – Joey Bada$$ Knock Tha Hustle – Cozz feat. J. Cole Fire – Vince Staples Sanity – Boulevards Go – Domo Genesis Bust it Open – Scotty ATL feat. B.o.B. Boom Clap – Charli XCX Cherchez LaGhost – Ghostface Killah feat. U-God It G Ma (Remix) – Keith Ape feat. A$AP Ferg, Father, Wacka Flocka Flame, and Dumbfounded All The Way Up – Fat Joe feat. French Monatana Good Knight – Kirk Knight feat. Joey Bada$$, Flatbush Zombies, & Dizzy Wright Talib Kweli – Get By
1 GANGRENE – You Disgust Me – Mass Appeal 2 PROFESSOR TOON – Take Notes – Cardigan 3 LIZZO – Big Grrrl Small World – Self-Released 4 VINCE STAPLES – Summertime ‘06 – Def Jam 5 TORAE – Clap Shit Up – Internal Affairs 6 KING MAGNETIC – Timing Is Everything 7 JR AND PH7 – Noir 8 TROOF MUSIC – The Donation [EP] – Self-Released 9 CONSTANT DEVIANTS – Avant Garde – Six2Six 10 DENIRO FARRAR – Bow Down
1 LYCUS – Chasms – Relapse 2 BARONESS – Purple – Abraxan Hymns 3 FORCED ORDER – Turn The Knife – Revelation Records 4 KYLESA – Exhausting Fire – Season Of Mist 5 FOUNDATION – Turncoat -Jawk 6 CULT LEADER – Lightless Walk 7 GLOAM Hex – Of Nine Heads – Caligari 8 TWITCHING TONGUES – Disharmony – Metal Blade 9 DEAFHEAVEN – New Bermuda – Anti 10 EXPANDER – Laws Of Power
Top 3 Adds
1 FUTURE PRIMITIVE – Spring Break Demo – Self-Released 2 BLOODIEST Bloodiest – Relapse 3 MAGRUDERGRIND II – Relapse
1 MOTHERS – When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired – Grand Jury 2 RATBOYS – AOID – Topshelf 3 PINEGROVE – Cardinal – Run For Cover 4 DAY WAVE – Headcase/Hard To Read – Grand Jury 5 PORCHES – Pool – Domino 6 WILD NOTHING – Life Of Pause – Captured Tracks 7 JAWBREAKER REUNION – Haha And Then What – Miscreant 8 GAZEBOS – Die Alone – Hardly Art 9 DEAR TRACKS – Soft Dreams [EP] -Track And Field 10 LA SERA – Music For Listening To Music To – Polyvinyl 11 THAO AND THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN – A Man Alive – Ribbon 12 SUNFLOWER BEAN – Human Ceremony – Fat Possum 13 QUILT – Plaza – Mexican Summer 14 ADULT BOOKS – Running From The Blows – Lolipop 15 MASS GOTHIC – Mass Gothic – SUB POP 16 FLORIST – The Birds Outside Sang – Double Double Whammy 17 SLINGSHOT DAKOTA – Break – Topshelf 18 FEELS – Feels – Castle Face 19 EERIE WANDA – Hum – BBIB 20 CULLEN OMORI – New Misery – SUB POP 21 NADA SURF – You Know Who You Are – Barsuk 22 BASEMENT – Promise Everything – Run For Cover 23 SO PITTED – Neo – SUB POP 24 YUCK – Stranger Things – Mame 25 SOUND OF CERES – Nostalgia For Infinity – Joyful Noise 26 HOLY WAVE – Freaks Of Nurture – Reverberation Appreciation Society 27 YOUR FRIEND – Gumption – Domino 28 INTO IT. OVER IT. – Standards – Triple Crown 29 SKI LODGE – New Life – Old Flame 30 DONKEYS – Midnight Palms – Easy Sound
Top 5 Adds
1 SUN DAYS – Album – Run For Cover 2 KITTEN FOREVER – 7 Hearts – Atlas Chair 3 B BOYS – No Worry No Mind – Captured Tracks 4 GOLDEN DAZE – Golden Daze – Autumn Tone 5 SUMMER TWINS – Limbo – Burger
From artists as obscure as Chill Moody and Tiger Town, to superstars like Nas and 2 Chainz, SXSW 2016 supplied days upon days of amazing performances. This is just the beginning of everything I got to experience on my trip to Austin.
Bleak // Lesser Life // Trudge // Junior in His – Thursday 3/24 @ Local 506
Aaron Carter – Friday 3/25 @ Cat’s Cradle
Bonus! Thanks to the help of Live Nation, WKNC will also be giving away tickets to Live Nation’s “Locals Only” event on April 3rd ! Be on the listen for the next two weeks to win tickets to this awesome showcase of local music!
And as always keep it locked to 88.1 all week to win tickets to these great shows! Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it and you could be a winner!
AUSTIN, TX – Days after President Obama came to Texas to speak at the tech portion of SXSW, Michelle Obama, accompanied by a panel of female superstars led by Queen Latifah, rapper Missy Elliot, songwriter Diane Warren, and actress Sophia Bush; spoke as the keynote to kickoff SXSW Music Week, Wednesday morning.
The focus of Obama’s speech was on her “Let Girls Learn” initiative, a program that aims to help improve education quality for the 62 million girls around the world who aren’t in school for various reasons. The panel also spoke about the new single that was recorded to promote Let Girls Learn, “This is For My Girls,” featuring Zendaya, Kelly Rowland, Lea Michele, Kelly Clarkson, Janelle Monae, and recent Parkwood Entertainment signees Chloe and Halle.
All of the panelists spoke about their experiences as women who never gave up on their goals, but emphasized that men and women should be allies in the effort to help women around the world. “There are a lot of ‘men only’ tables out there,” said Obama, “and if you want to strengthen your organization you have to bring women to the table as well.”
Obama cited economic reasons such as, countries with a larger population of educated women having stronger GDPs; and Queen Latifah pointed out that when women are able to be included in the professional workspace, it creates the ability to handle issues from a broader perspective.
Being that it was a music conference, the ladies also spoke about the artists they listened to growing up. Queen Latifah gave the most detailed response, talking about her experiences as the only girl in her crew as a young rapper and how that was a good experience for her because there was no sexism, just collaboration.
The First Lady wrapped up her speech with a couple questions from the audience, one of which created quite a stir. She was asked whether or not she would run for President. She unfortunately declined the possibility, stating that she’s had a wholesome experience as First Lady, and that it wouldn’t be fair for her family, especially her two daughters that are entering young adulthood. However, she did admit that she’ll miss being in the White House, and that she’ll miss helping and working with young people.
In a political climate where the loudest opinions always seem to be passionately against the Obamas, the First Lady’s discussion in Austin was in front of a friendly crowd that most likely wouldn’t exist outside of the city’s limits. She seemed relaxed and at home, which is fitting for a conference like SXSW where work and fun intersect every day, and stood as a perfect way to usher in the greatest music festival of the year.
