On July 15, an army of DMV artists and activists will convene on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for a series of performances and speeches. Featuring local acts like the Backyard Band, Uptown XO, RAtheMC, Black Cobain, Fattrell, Rasi Caprice, Phil Ade, K-Beta and PHZ Sick, the event aims to illuminate on the importance of D.C. statehood and protest the Gun Ammendment that Congress has tacked on to the D.C. Voting Rights Bill.
“Congress wants to put unregulated guns on the streets of D.C., including assault rifles, and we can not let that happen,” said Johnny Barnes, event organizer and Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Are. “Congress tries to tell us how to live and tell us how to die, by deciding how we spend our own money and by interfering and intervening in our laws.”
The event will also be featured in an upcoming film called HoodStock. Produced by local firm N’KOSI, the film that producer Sia Tiambi Barnes says “…is about developing a sustainable market in the District through the lens of hip-hop.”
He added, “In our research, we found that it is fundamentally impossible to sustain environmentally, economically, without first hearing from the community. And isn’t that the purpose of our democracy – for the people, by the people? How can we campaign for democracy aro
und the world when we turn a deaf ear to the voices of our own nation’s capital?”
Out in Chicago, the North Coast Festival has a announced a line-up of artists set to grace the stage. The three day festival will begin September 3 and conclude the following Sunday and feature a number of hip-hop acts, including De La Soul, Nas and Damian Marley, Lupe Fiasco, Jay Electronica and many more.
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A complete list can be seen below with prices for each day included. A three day pass will amount to $75. Fans can find information about the festival and purchase tickets at the official website.
Day 1 – Friday, September 3, 2010 – $35
The Chemical Brothers (Live)
Paul Van Dyk * Pretty Lights
Paul Kalkbrenner * Orchard Lounge
Day 2 – Saturday, September 4, 2010 – $35
Moby (DJ Set) * De La Soul * Jay Electronica * Boys Noize
Umphrey’s McGee * The New Deal * Laidback Luke * Future Rock
Benga * Jakob Dylan & Three Legs
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals * New Mastersounds
Van Ghost * Two Fresh
… plus more to be added!
Day 3 – Sunday, September 5, 2010 – $35
Nas & Damian Marley * The Disco Biscuits
Lupe Fiasco * Benny Benassi * Flying Lotus
Holy Ghost! * Mayer Hawthorne & The County
Green Velvet (Live) * Claude VonStroke
Dirty Dozen Brass Band * Phantogram * Loyal Divide
… plus more to be added!
Finally, California duo the New Boyz have been nominated as “Best Group” at this year’s Teen Choice Awards. The award show is set to take place this August 8 and will be aired the following night. Fans can vote for their favorite artists over at the Teen Choice Awards website.
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The group released their debut album Skinny Jeanz and a Mic on Aylum/Warner Bros. last year and are currently prepping their follow-up Too Cool to Care for a September release.
