If you could measure a country’s pulse by its music, India’s right now would read hip hop. Yes, one of the most popular genres of music right now, it has a whole festival dedicated to it, right here in Goa. The Goa Hip Hop festival, currently in its third year, has got to be one of the coolest festival Goa hosts in the month of Feb. Scheduled between Feb 7 and 8 this year, the festival will be held at the Riva Resort in Mandrem (which also hosts the legendary Goa Sunsplash!) and promises to bring us some of the most spectacular rappers from across the world!
The festival began with the joint efforts of MC Solomon, a rapper and producer from London and beatboxer and producer MC Eucalips. Their efforts to build a socially conscious Hip Hop community, and to embolden the voices of rappers in India by creating cross cultural platforms, eventually resulted in this festival that is a celebration of the genre and all that it has to offer.
With a dazzling line-up of artists of both local and international repute, the festival this year is happening on a much grander scale, in the beautiful open-air lawns of the Riva Resort, with performances in over 15 Indian and International languages. Some of the live acts to look out for are 7 Bantaiz (India), Dopeadelicz (India), Bombay Lokal (India), Sun J & Khatarnaak Hiphop Collective (India), Tracy Desa (Paris/Goa), Haji Springer (USA), 5:55 (Nepal), Mc Altaf (India), MC Solomon (UK), MC Eucalips (India/Australia), Johnny Voltik (USA), Kaztet D (Cambodia), DJ Pia Collada (India), DJ Lushlata (India), DJ Boomlekha (India).
Remember the gully rappers bboying (bgirling anyone?!) in Gully Boy— well you’d be treated to some here as well. Breakdance workshops, beatbox, graffiti, hula hoop, and poi; cyphers and open mic; dance competitions and fire performances are all in the pipeline.
So if you’re in Goa that weekend, you know where the party’s going to be at!
