On a summer Monday afternoon what better place to go than to a free concert full of pro and amateur skaters and BMX riders and soda beverages that satisfy your sugar addiction. For the third time in a row the sun has given us heat and fun as finial day of Afropunk begins with a band called The Freshmen. This band reached old and new fans, the younger crowd more evident that afternoon due to summer school being over that day.
If felt like the EPIC/SMASH pre festival all over again as American Fangs and Milsted both graced us with their prescience to rock us again at Afropunk. The energy that these two bands set only grew when Zoe Kravitz and her band called Elevator Fight performed for the first time at Afropunk. It was a great match as fans were equally excited to see her on stage in Brooklyn, New York.
The vast crowd in all of the festivities was due to the first ever Urbanx skating competition that commenced, having hundreds of skaters and fans watch the battle of the streets. It was surreal, turning a parking lot into one of the greatest thing you can ever do for a skater, the ability to craft the skill to become the best at what he or she does. UrbanX showed this in more ways than one.
The same fog the covered the stage for Game Rebellion has now been set for the final act, Janelle Monae and Saul Williams. These two names only drew more fans from all over the country, finding a best way to see them upon such a glorious night. Janelle Monae entered the stage; not missing a step throughout the free styled drum set the drummer gave the fans. Janelle Monae always had a way with words and expression that sets her apart from any artist of this generation, gaining the main influence of musician and dancer James Brown. Through all of her power comes great vocal control, having the ability to slow down the pace with just the level of her voice. The power that Saul Williams had was given to the crowd in a different way, ironically, creating a mosh pit for those wanted to be apart of the Afropunk hurricane.
Saul Williams began by reading his “declaration of dedication” making his last dedication to the one person that brought us all here, Michael Joseph Jackson. Backed by three leaders of sound, Saul William’s resonance was an assault to the mainstream. Many fans repeated the lyrics as an affirmation of truth to them, pumping their fist and losing their voices. CX KiDTRONiK and Ramm:El:Zee only added fuel to Afropunk fire, as it was not an intermission but part of the set itself. The sound they had was something unlike Afropunk have heard. The sound system work for the fans as much the fans were rocking to the music.
Having “Sunday Bloody Sunday” echo throughout the Brooklyn walls made it clear that Afropunk will continue to keep the fans entertained for many years to come. Throughout these three day Afropunk has been the declaration of rock n’roll, skate and BMX to the mixed urban youth. To have people from all over the world intertwine their culture and style to art, music and sports is the most magical thing you can ever do, especially to a country that has the younger generation only seeing one picture. Whether you’re a fan or an artist, these free three days showed what a couple of people could do for the general majority, inspiration to be who you are. Afropunk showed most importantly Identity. We saw many shades of it this year.
BE SURE CHECK THE PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Photo Credit:
Kamikaze
http://www.myspace.com/kohitzu
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