The best of both worlds: two sides of hip-hop converge on Atlanta

Summer is here and so are the parties. The Atlanta Indie 2009 and the The Birthday Bash set it off with a little something for everyone. First up, 107.9 held its 14th annual Birthday Bash at Philips Arena. The concert is billed as the biggest in hip-hop which celebrates the presence of 107.9, (formerly Hot 97) in Atlanta. This year was no different as it posted a roster packed with the hottest artists. The biggest buzz centered on Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane’s reported beef. Jeezy’s only major response to date has been “24-23 (Kobe, Lebron)” that uses a neat sports metaphor to describe the two rappers. Fortunately, nothing serious went down and the concert moved along peacefully. Jeezy shined by introducing Mary J. Blige and Lil’ Wayne. The brief appearance was an especially good look for Wayne whose new album, Rebirth drops late this summer. Though Mary J. didn’t bless the mic, fans were still treated to some R&B in the form of Trey Songz and Keri Hilson.

If radio hip-hop is not your thing, the Atlanta Indie 2009 would have been much more your speed. The all-day event held from 2-11 p.m., gave fans a taste of hip-hop’s more experimental side. Fest goers braved the heat, with nothing more than the shade of a few umbrellas and the open back door of the Bench on Marietta St., as cover. The cool of the sunset gave everyone renewed energy for Hollyweerd and B.o.B.  Rap and instrumental quartet Hollyweerd rocked the show with “Weerdo,” their funky and funny sing-along hit. D.J. Don Cannon kept the sounds moving between sets. I chatted with B.o.B right before he hit the stage. A quick sound gaffe cleared to make way for his freestyle on critics'  "comparing me to 3 Stacks.” He then launched into his portion of “On Top of the World” from Paper Trail with T.I. and Ludacris – then into a bouncy rock rendition of “Haterz Everywhere” that made us all jump and forget the heat altogether. He picked up the guitar for “I’ll Be in the Sky” to major applause from an intimate crowd in a space a little larger than a courtyard. The crowd had thinned out by Mickey Factz's set, but those who stayed bobbed their heads and noted the similarities to Jay-Z, only with more social consciousness. The Atlanta Indie was a success considering how many people came out to rub elbows, literally, on one of the hottest days so far this summer. Hopefully next year will bring out more stans at a larger, cooler (temperature) venue with equally cool new talent.

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