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EVENT REVIEW – Fusicology A3C 2010 Wrap-Up + Videos

A3C 2010: Atlanta A-fire With Hot New Talent, DIY Tactics, and Fresh Females in Hip Hop!


We strongly recommend you do not sleep on…

A3C Hip Hop Conference & Festival 2010 was certainly not wanton for more acts – in fact, we think the good folks at A3C, as well as the lovely and dedicated Ms. Fadia Kader of Perfect Attendance, were possibly a bit TOO nice with all aspiring MCs and DJs they facilitated on this year’s bill. With over 300 artists and presenters, to say that the weekend was a bit of a sensory-overload would be an understatement, but no one could dare say they were bored at any point, that is for sure.

Four stages, three press rooms, and a vendor merchandise area kept us moving – we would be lying if we said we were able to catch it all, so although we know we missed a few stellar sets, of the ones we did catch, there were a few that simply stood out.

VIDEO: On the Scene Day 2 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPMXi6R80nE&fs=1&hl=en_US]

First off, we might as well start with what we already had a hunch would be dope – the Red Bull Music Academy Stage – where one of our favorite producers, 9th Wonder, helmed the line-up for Thursday night. A little does of Duck Down never hurt nobody neither; Buckshot (still looking about 15 sporting his backpack during the whole set), Skyzoo (starting to see what all the buzz in about), and the lovely and hilarious Jean Grae rounded out the top of opening night. We just wish they woulda had Jean’s mic up higher. Check the video: [Jean Grae VIDEO]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNUdtxfhQgk&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Thursday night also presented a refreshing appearance from new blood, Boog Brown, who joined her Detroit fam, MarvWon and OneBeLo, to be sure the Midwest was represented proper on Day 1. Like some of her hometown sisters Miz Korona, Invincible and Monica Blaire, Boog ain’t no bubblegum girl – she is most definitely one to keep your ear on, an A3C stand-out. Another always refreshing experience is artists that know they are not blasters, and know where their cadence falls amid the beat. Clean, clean are rising stars Trek Life and Diamond District – and boy do we appreciate an un-cluttered set.

Before Friday night got fully underway, the All-45s Showcase warmed us up (literally) as we tried to keep up running from DJ station to station waiting to see what 45 dons, Rhettmatic, DJ Diamond D, DJ Evil Dee and DJ AppleJac were going to pull out of their crates next – thumbs on the timer. Four rounds and we had circled the entire upper floor of Masquerade at least twice, pocket air-horns in hand ready to call out the fire, courtesy of that witty Jessica Weber and her Co-Sign ideers. [DJ Applejac VIDEO] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw4GnDYk1lo&fs=1&hl=en_US] [DJ Diamond D VIDEO] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mUe0luPgdo&fs=1&hl=en_US] [DJ Rhettmatic VIDEO]

Ladies, we cannot overlook the fearless femmes fatales who commanded stages that were otherwise fuming with testosterone all weekend, like it was nothing. Thank goodness for Miz Metro and Boog Brown. But we must say, the hot new duo hailing from the Crescent City, Plane Jane, brought their “I Piss Glitter” superstar swag to Atlanta Friday and blew half the fellas away at Perfect Attendance. Confidence without cursing? Some original style? Don’t ask these girls about Weezy. Plane Jane repped the dirty South in a whole new light. In fact, Fusicology caught the future collab of Plane Jane, Miz Metro and Felecia Cruz under the guise of the B.A.B. Collective happen in real-time: [VIDEO]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jO8iJUNATw&fs=1&hl=en_US]
Meet Plane Jane: [VIDEO] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY04ONZQ4Qs&fs=1&hl=en_US]

However, the risk of sounding biased, must say, the award for the most entertaining, without a doubt, went to Detroit vet, the incomparable Danny Brown. As MarvWon would concur, Danny is the “definition of different.” Unlike so many young entertainers coming up, Brown is concerned with being nothing but himself, rocking his own brand of dark, low-profile, ice-less swag that the Motor City is known for. Yet somehow he brings an infectious dance element to his blue collar hip hop. WhattupDoe Dog? I’m straight. Been makin money since 1998: [VIDEO p.1] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca9IdvDPgZ4&fs=1&hl=en_US]
[VIDEO p.2]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5REY5I8ovBs&fs=1&hl=en_US]

We also super enjoyed a surprise cameo set from another Detroit mic jock, Ro Spit and his partner in crime, Ron Dance (we hear no one on Twitter likes this dude), with special guest MarvWon – warmin it up: [VIDEO] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXqE2UE1MR4&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Ah, panels and workshops: sometimes the obvious simply does need to be stated in a forum setting. We sat in on a few sessions where the do’s and don’t’s of social networking for your music career (like what not to say on Twitter, ahem) were picked apart, and free web tools were rated to make sure your website and your freeloads aren’t ridden with annoying spam or pseudo-porn. Props to our ATLien homie Senor Kaos who seemed both gave some real talk advice on panels as well as rocked a stage. Oh – and how to properly approach blogs, zines, labels and other folks you want to talk (positively) about your music. Most importantly, we were delighted to see SESAC hosting a licensing and publishing workshop – for if you don’t own your music, on paper, you might not see any paper.

Not surprising, Rhymefest and Camp-Lo delivered two of the best sets Saturday, even though swells of disappointment massed when it was made known that headliner Erick Sermon of EPMD was going to be a no-show. Not sure we could have taken much more anyway, after running from stage to stage like attention deficit disorder kids for three days straight, we couldn’t believe it, but we were hip-hopped out. Is that possible?

Shouts to Jodine Dorce of Jodine’s Corner and Kai Alce of NDATL Records for braving the A3C turf with us!

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— Jocelyne Ninneman for Fusicology.com
> Follow her on Twitter @JMoneyRed

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