In Print: Kreayshawn, Lil B, and the New Generation of Bay Area Hip-Hop; Our All Shook Down Fest; and More

From SF Weekly's latest print issue:

​Insurgent Hip-Hop: Adam Giacomini remembers the very first time he heard Kreayshawn's "Gucci Gucci." Giacomini, known to listeners of Bay Area radio station KMEL as DJ Amen, was eating lunch one day this spring with a local hip-hop manager at Original Buffalo Wings on Lombard Street in San Francisco. The manager, who goes by Stretch, cued up the song on his iPhone. Even through tiny speakers, the marauding beat and Kreayshawn's impetuous yapping about fashion-obsessed bitches and Barbies who work at Arby's struck a decisive blow.

"I was just like, 'What the hell is this?'" Giacomini remembers. He laughs, recalling the song's most memorable line: "I got the swag and it's coming out my ovaries" ... [continue reading]

J-Boogie

​All Shook Down Music Fest: Looking at the list of performers for this year's All Shook Down Music Fest, you could be forgiven for thinking it's a bit strange. At the top of the list is Crystal Castles, a dark synth-pop duo whose best-known song, "Not in Love," is a soaring collaboration with Cure singer Robert Smith. Next up is Oakland rapper Mistah F.A.B., who's famous for his association with the hyphy movement, but has lately branched out into classic boom-bap hip-hop and even Auto-Tuned radio pop. Then there's Maus Haus, an S.F. outfit known for its spacey electro-rock. The rest of the bill similarly jolts in different directions: folky '60s jams from the Blank Tapes, forward-thinking beats from DJ Centipede of Mophono, and jazzy funk-rock from Con Brio are just a few of the flavors to be had.

So are we crazy? Maybe. All Shook Down isn't quite like any other lineup around -- and that's exactly how we wanted it. As everyone knows, there are plenty of music festivals in this town. But there isn't one that aims to grab local artists from a variety of genres -- rock, hip-hop, electronic, and more -- and put them in the Regency Ballroom for one night, along with a big national headliner like Crystal Castles. It just seemed like a good idea... [continue reading]

Also, we recommend shows from DNTEL, Diplo, Aaron Novik, and Quinn Deveaux and the Blue Beat Review.

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