The document discusses the A3C Hip-hop festival in Atlanta which was in its 9th year. This year was the biggest festival yet, but it was also the first year the festival was spread across 5 different locations around Atlanta instead of being in a single location. Some veteran attendees preferred the previous single location format. However, artists like BIGREC felt spreading out across the city was a good strategic move to assert the festival's presence. There were also some complaints about mainstream artists performing and promoting themselves at the festival, which was meant to highlight independent artists. Overall, the festival seemed to be going through growing pains in adjusting to the new multi-location format.

1. As a newbie to the whole A3C Hip-hop
festival scene, I couldn’t think of a better one
to attend than this one.
A3C
is in its ninth
year, and this was
definitely the biggest
one they’ve had to date. Not to mention
that this was the first year the festival was
relocated from its familiar host grounds at
The Masquerade, but instead, was spread out
amongst 5 different major locations including
East Atlanta Village, downtown Atlanta, Old
Fourth Ward, and Little 5 points. There were
even shuttles that transported attendees to
and from all 5 locations to help ease the burden
of traveling back and forth from various events
and shows.
While some of the veteran A3C attendees
preferred the one central location, over the
new model that sprawled out all over the city,
it’s easy to see that this is the tactic A3C is
using to assert themselves amongst the likes
of even bigger nationally acclaimed festivals
like Lalapalooza and SXSW.
In fact, while waiting around in Space
2 for THE BAR EXAM to start, I had an
amazing opportunity to speak with artist
BIGREC, the man behind the “Real Hip-Hop
Is Back Movement,” and his manager Kim. As
seasoned A3C veterans, they could understand
the frustrations of people disliking the new
model.
“I personally loved when it was all in one
central location at The Masquerade” said
BIGREC, “but from a business point of view,
they had to spread out. You gotta think of it like
this, if you’re trying to really make your mark,
you’re going to want to take over the entire
city. I know that’s how I would approach it. So
people may not like it at first. It may be a little
shaky here and there, but it’ll eventually catch
on,” he said assuredly.
Kim on the other hand, had complaints
about another new phenomenon that had
begun to occur at this year’s festival, which
was the intrusion of mainstream artists.
“I think it’s a good thing that they come
to smaller events like this to show support
and everything, but for them to have all
these performances and to using this as an
opportunity to further promote and market
themselves I think takes the shine away from
the independent artists who are trying to do
the same thing. It’s supposed to be about
them, not the mainstream artists.”
Even with the conflicting views, you could tell
A3C was just going through a bit of growing
pains, if you will.
“I think things will run a lot more smoothly
next year. People are going to become a lot
more familiar with the city, and it’s going to be
a win-win for everyone,” BIGREC added.
Soon after my discussion with Kim and
BIGREC ended, the show began to start.
There were performances from Majur, who
really surprised us by opening with spitting
some amazing, raw bars acapella style. He
was followed by the prolific Phene, and the
Cambodian soldier himself, Mic Barz. Other
appearances included MICXSIC, Me’Mo,
Billionaire, Buggs Tha Rocka Joe Stu, and of
course, Mr. RHHIB himself, BIGREC.
S O U T H E R N H O L L Y W O O D M A G A Z I N E S O U T H E R N H O L L Y W O O D M A G A Z I N E
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