Summer 2015 Guide to Hip Hop Music Festivals

2015 is going to be an awesome year for hip hop.  This summer season is jam-packed with renowned festivals like Philadelphia’s yearly Roots Picnic, the 11th annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, and Budweiser’s Made In America festival, which is taking place simultaneously on both the east and west coasts.  With so many events taking place across the country — some for as little as $40 — there are countless opportunities for fans and up-and-comers alike to network, party, and hear some great music.

For those who’ll be touring or traveling outside the U.S. during the summer months, the international stage has plenty to offer, too: Common People in Southampton, the Forbidden Fruit Festival in Dublin, and the Wireless Festival in London.  We’ve already put some of our favorites in chronological order for you.

May, 2015: Philadelphia

The 8th Annual Roots Picnic

• Location — Philadelphia, PA
• Venue — Festival Pier @ Penn’s Landing
• Date — May 30
• Tickets — $82
• 2015 Performers — The Roots, A$AP Rocky, Afrika Bambaataa, Erykah Badu

Honorable mention: the California Roots Festival, which we featured on our 2015 California music festivals page.

June, 2015: New Jersey

Hot 97 Summer Jam

• Location — East Rutherford, NJ
• Venue — MetLife Stadium
• Date — June 7
• Tickets — $63
• 2015 Performers — Big Sean, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Omarion

July, 2015: New Orleans

Essence Music Festival

• Location — New Orleans, LA
• Venues:
  • Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
  • Louisiana Superdome
• Date — July 2 – 5
• Tickets — $50 and up
• 2015 Performers — Usher, Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, Charlie Wilson

11th Annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival

• Location — Brooklyn, NY
• Venue — 50 Kent Ave.
• Date — July 11
• Tickets — $40 – $100
• 2015 Performers — Common, Mobb Deep, Pitchblak Brass Band, Charles Hamilton, DJ Rob Swift

August, 2015: Los Angeles

Made in America

• Locations:
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Philadelphia, PA
• Venues:
  • Los Angeles — Grand Park
  • Philadelphia — Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Date — August 30 – 31
• Tickets — TBA
• 2015 Performers — Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Big Daddy Kane

September, 2015: Tempe, AZ

Summer Ends Music Festival

• Location — Tempe, AZ
• Venue — Tempe Beach Park
• Date — September 24 – 27
• Tickets — TBA
• 2015 Performers — Big Sean, G-Eazy, J. Cole

Honorable mention: maybe October doesn’t really count as “summer” depending on which part of the country you live in, but our list just wouldn’t be complete without a nod to “hip hop’s family reunion,” or the 11th Annual A3C Festival.  A3C 2015 is scheduled to take place October 7 through October 11 at the A3C Festival Grounds in Atlanta, GA.  The 2015 lineup is currently TBA; but with more than 500 performances scheduled (and an alumni roster featuring names like Questlove, Ghostface Killah, Talib Kweli, and 2 Chainz), there’s bound to be something for every fan.

A3C will be accepting solicited submissions to perform until September 19, with a $50 late submission fee for all entries received after August 31.  All submissions must be made via Sonicbids.  No unsolicited entries will be accepted.

Hip Hop Abroad: International Rap Festivals

Hip hop may have been born in the Bronx, but today it’s spread to fans and artists all over the world.  If you’re going outside the United States this summer, you might want to stop off at of these international destinations.

The UK: Common People

• Location — Southampton, UK
• Venue — Southampton Common
• Date — May 23 – 24
• Tickets — £55
• 2015 Performers — Fatboy Slim, De La Soul, George The Poet, Derrick Carter

Dublin: Forbidden Fruit Festival

• Location — Dublin, Ireland
• Venue — The Irish Museum of Modern Art
• Date — May 29 – 31
• Tickets —  €50 – €119
• 2015 Performers — Wu Tang Clan, Earl Sweatshirt, Joey Bada$$, MC Melodee

London: The Wireless Festival

• Location — London, UK
• Venue — Finsbury Park
• Date — June 28
• Tickets —  £210
• 2015 Performers — Grandmaster Flash, A$AP Rocky, Childish Gambino, Drake, Pusha T, Nicki Minaj

Got a hip hop demo you’d like to share?  Looking for a radio promotion team to help take your career to the next level?  Get in touch with Planetary Group by calling us in L.A. at (323) 952-5050 or by email!