We noticed something very special immediately upon entering BUKU 2014… It might have been because we were totally out of our element in the deep south, or maybe it was being so close to the Mississippi river. Maybe it was the perfect weather or maybe it was the beautiful people… No matter what it was, we knew we were going to have an incredible time at BUKU right from the get-go.

The festival was set up exactly like a shotgun home in New Orleans: the stages were all in line with each other, allowing attendees to go from the main stage all the way to the back alley without having to walk around aimlessly or use a confusing map. Everything was straight forward and easily navigated. You could literally walk in a straight line next to the river and hit ever stage. It was incredibly easy and convenient.

Along the way from one stage to another, concert-goers could stop by an assortment of INCREDIBLE vendors including food, merchandise, and more. New Orleans is home to some of the best cooking in the entire world, so taking a break for food was something to look forward to. From brats to pizza and even some vegetarian options, BUKU had the food game locked down.

BUKU 2014 Day 1 Recap:

If you weren’t able to make it to the first day of BUKU as soon as the gates open, you missed out on some serious up-and-comers. Treasure Fingers was a blast in the Ballroom, and NO native DXXXY tore it up in the back alley (check out DXXXY’s full set from BUKU right here) before Jesse Slayter completely blew it up. Kid Kamillion was after Slayter making the Back Alley the place to be for some of the best underrated acts at the festival.

Meanwhile at the Power Plant main stage, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony were bringing everyone back to the 90’s with all of their hits. Seeing them followed by NAS was one of the coolest and most nostalgic festival experiences ever.

The Ballroom definitely had its own vibes throughout the entire afternoon with Classixx and Miami Horror playing some incredible live sets that were each funkier than the next.

We were also able to hop on board the S.S. Blu-Ku to catch Big Freedia’s Twerk Lesson which had to have been one of the most unique experiences of any festival we have ever been to. Watching a swarm of people twerk as hard as they could while Big Freedia slapped their asses was hilariously educational.

If you were looking for a place to really get down, the Float Den was where it was at. Good lord was that place sweaty. Watching Paper Diamond we thought there was no possible way that stage could get any more rowdy, until Carnage came on and completely ruined every one in attendance.

Once the sun went down was when things really got goin’ at BUKU. After rocking out to Sleigh Bells (who were extremely impressive and above our expectations) we were relaxing with a few beers during Dusky‘s deep set in the Back Alley before catching the last bit of Ellie Goulding at the main stage.

One of the biggest (and best) surprises of the entire festival was getting to catch The Gaslamp Killer‘s set in the ballroom between Pusha T and Chance The Rapper. GLK’s set was full of awesome new music from Hudson Mowhake and live scratching that showed the audience what an actual DJ does…

The best set of the night (and possibly the entire weekend) was without a doubt Chance The Rapper. Saying his stage presence is “high energy” does not do the man justice. An hour was not nearly enough time to soak in the magic that was Chance. His band was tight, on point, and perfectly coupled his quick flow.

BUKU 2014 Music + Arts Festival Photos

More photos and a recap video on the way! Stay tuned!

BUKU 2014 Day 2 Recap:

Day 2 of BUKU 2014 started off harder than expected with DJ Snake in the Float Den. It was our first time seeing Snake perform live and it was not a let down whatsoever. Focusing more on his  festival set than what he showcased in his two-hour essential mix, DJ Snake definitely blew us away. But nothing could prepare us for what was to come.

As we made our way into the Ballroom, we noticed something strange happening during Dan Deacon‘s set. He had shifted the entire audience into a giant dance party — and not the kind you would expect. Playing on the floor instead of on stage, Dan Deacon was able to shape the crowd into a huge circle that completely occupied the space of the Ballroom.

People would take turns running into the middle and showing off their moves. Once he felt the crowd had enough, Dan had everyone run to the center and greet each other with high fives. It was yet again one of the most unique things you could ever witness at a festival.

Since the Back Alley was a success for us on the first day of the festival, we made our way back and once again were not dissappointed. We caught another New Orleans native, Shanook, on stage while Boyfriend was getting down with the crowd performing one of her newest tracks. It was just another in-your-face experience from BUKU.

One of the most anticipated acts of BUKU (for the JNTM BUKrew at least) was the Funklords known only as Chromeo. It was awesome getting a chance to see the the guys live, right in midst of their 2014 tour. The guys were on point as always and their set featured some of their new jams like “Jealous” and “Come Alive,” both of which were even better live.

Cashmere Cat was another catch in the Back Alley, playing everything from his own Wedding Bells EP to other FoFoFadi-inspired artists like Drippy Dolphin and Trippy Turtle. Cat went super hard and had the entire back alley packed to the brim with adoring fans.

There was really no other choice other than seeing Baauer b2b RL Grime. Two of trap music biggest stars collaborating with each other behind the decks was by far the most insane experiences of the festival.

After getting completely turnt up at Baauer and RL Grime, we made our way to Soul Clap who was playing two full hours of some of the most soulful, funky house music we had heard all weekend long.

Fortunately the grooves kept on rollin’ with Skream, who as of late has been venturing further away from the disgusting dubstep he made his name with and has moved closer to disco house that had the Back Alley getting down with their funky selves.

After passing through the Float Den to catch a little of Tyler the Creator (who was raunchy and awesome as always), we made our way to the Beats Antique set in the Ballroom. The place was packed and sweatier than ever. The crowd was full of die-hard fans who were dancing and enjoying the last few hours of the festival.

BUKU 2014 Review

The festival was overall a huge success. Everywhere we turned we were met with another great act. The venue could not have been better and the food and beverage vendors were a perfect representation of the host city.

It wasn’t just the entertainment that was impressive, the attendees of BUKU 2014 were also something to write home about. The people in New Orleans are some of the most down to earth and friendly folks. There were multiple times where people would walk up to us and start a conversation like we had all been best friends for years. Now THAT was truly a unique festival experience.

Another important aspect was the art. Now, most festivals say they’re an “music and arts” festival, but not many actually mean it as much as BUKU does. Everything about the festival was in some form or another focused on art. Whether it was the wall of live graffiti or the commissioned piece hanging in the float den, BUKU was actually an art festival.

Overall, the BUKU experience was a refreshing one. The festival is still very young and growing into itself, but that’s what makes it so great. There weren’t a lot of bros or VIP people spending tons of money just to be seen at the show. Everyone in attendance was someone who was there for the music, or at least there to have fun.

That’s the bottom line. The festival was FUN. There was nothing quite like BUKU and I personally cannot wait to return.

The post BUKU 2014 Music + Arts Festival Recap & Photos appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

The festival is a network of various stages and interactive attractions, along the river. Featuring unconventional stage setups, Buku will be delivering vibes at all corners, with one stage located in a Mardi Gras float manufacturing warehouse and one on a docked riverboat.  In it’s third year, Buku presents its best lineup yet with a vast range of artists and genres making it the festival for anyone and everyone.

From The Flaming Lips to UK dubstep pioneer Skream, Zeds Dead to Chance the Rapper and so many other different artists in between, it’s hard to believe Buku packs this incredibly loaded lineup into just two days on only five stages.

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Genre-blurring acts across a wide soundscape marks this festival’s lineup with a caliber of diversity that is hard to recreate.  Veteran hip-hop trend setter Nas is slated to deliver a soulful homage to rap’s roots, while Colorado’s favorite son Paper Diamond, will surely bring his distinct blend of trap-inspired electro to the mix.

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Adding sets from saxophone slayer Griz,  New Orlean’s own Kid Kamillion, Holy Ghost! and a slew of other talents, Buku is boasting one of the best lineups on the entire 2014 festival circuit.

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Immersing a festival experience into The Big Easy’s remarkably rich cultural atmosphere, enables Buku Music and Art Project to expose everyone to everything New Orleans has to offer in just two days. We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the fun, and be sure to follow the journey as the action unfolds.

And if you haven’t already, snag your tickets for Buku here, as the limited number of tickets is bound to run out soon!

The post Bringing The Noise: Buku Music + Art Project appeared first on Just Noise To Me.

Good day, loyal readers. What a pleasure it is to meet you! My name is Richie Martin and I’m the new hip hop correspondent for JustNoiseToMe. I could spend a couple paragraphs telling you about myself, and how my beard is recognized as a sovereign nation by the UN. But instead, I’ll introduce myself in the best way I could possibly think of — with a list of my favorite hip hop albums of all time.

This list is in no way meant to be definitive or even a list of what I think are the best hip hop albums. It’s in no particular order. This is simply a list of the dozen-or-so albums I could listen to forever. However, if something on this list touches a nerve, I more than welcome your anger and bitter commentary. But I’d rather be your friend, so just keep that in mind before you start harassing me, punk.

LET’S GO.

Liquid Swords

GZA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO1Tmr5S2BQ
There had to be at least one Wu-Tang album on this list. Why Liquid Swords? It’s an honest toss up for me between 36 Chambers, Tical and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. I picked Liquid Swords because it’s the album that got me into Wu-Tang. I remember listening to them early in my teenage years and just not getting it. Fast forward a couple years to when I started making beats just for shits ‘n gigs and something about GZA’s sound really struck a chord. But really, you could pick any of the initial albums from any member of the Clan of the Killa Beez and I wouldn’t put up a fight.

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

Outkast

I might get a little bit of hate for this one. I really wanted to pick Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, but I was four years old when that shit came out. As much as I LOVE everything Outkast has made, my introduction to Three Stacks and Sir Lucious Leftfoot was during the peak of their popularity in the early 2000’s. This album is insanely diverse in its sound and really showcases Dre and Big Boi’s unique (and sometimes crazy) approach to the genre.

The Minstrel Show

Little Brother

Little Brother is a trio consisting of the formidable rhyming duo, Phonte and Big Pooh, with the legendary 9th Wonder handling the production. I’m not sure if there was a bigger influence for me growing up than 9th Wonder. His production is on point from beginning to end on The Minstrel Show. Te and Poo are on a mission to show you how slighted they really are by the lack of recognition they receive, with numerous lines targeted to fans and the media for their consistent recognition of played out bullshit. Regardless of the message (which was received with plenty of criticism), this album is a joy to listen to from beginning to end.

Midnight Marauders

A Tribe Called Quest

I had never dabbled much in the offerings of the Tribe until I made a trip to Rock the Bells, and got to see them perform Midnight Marauders live. It was a surreal experience. Q-Tip’s energy infected the crowd of I don’t know how many thousands of people in a way I’ve never ever fathomed to be possible. Busta Rhymes made a surprise appearance and changed my fucking life. Maybe that’s a little hyperbolic, but immediately following that weekend, I downloaded the entire Quest discography and made my peace with the hip hop gods for denying the word of ATCQ for so long.

Kush & Orange Juice

Wiz Khalifa

This is another choice that might catch me some flack. For one, yes, I know. This isn’t an album, it’s a mixtape. For two, it’s Wiz Khalifa. But again, this isn’t a definitive list of the “best” of anything. As you can tell, most of the selections so far have a story to go along with them, and Kush & OJ is no different. Its release marked what was probably the height of Wiz’s popularity and he absolutely destroyed Twitter for a solid week. This is the soundtrack to what is probably the most memorable summer of my life. If I could go back in time and listen to any album/mixtape for the first time all over again, this might be it.

Blue Chips 2

Action Bronson

I might as well get the other mixtape out of the way. Action Bronson is absolutely my favorite artist right now. He’s got fantastic taste in beats and frequently takes a chance on something you’ve definitely never heard before. He’s a laid back dude with a braggadocio as big as his appetite. Produced by fellow Brooklyn Native, Party Supplies, Blue Chips 2 is a hilarious, graphic and bold project that’s gets more and more fun with every listen. I’d like to apologize in advance for how much I’ll be writing about Action Bronson.

Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City

Kendrick Lamar

Not exactly sure what you want me to say here. I love Kendrick, I love TDE and I can’t wait to see what these guys do in 2014. If only Kendrick was as enjoyable live as he is recorded. But I digress ….

Illmatic

Nas

The first 16 bars of “Life’s a Bitch” were life affirming the first time I ever heard them. Once I learned them, they also had me convinced that I could be a rapper, too. Well, we now know I’m not a rapper. But on a lazy Saturday afternoon cruising down the highway with your windows rolled down, AZ and Nas can still manage convince me that I’m the baddest dude around, if not just for a few moments. For me, Illmatic is THE Nas album, no argument. It’s 10 tracks that perfectly sum up the glory of 90’s hip hop.

Already Platinum

Slim Thug

I’ve lived in Arizona for more than half of my life now, but Texas is and always will be home. When I really started to get into hip hop, nothing was cooler to me than the thought of rappers from MY state getting the recognition I knew they deserved. The title of Slim Thug’s first major release was a daring boast that never came to fruition, but he still managed to create a decent amount of buzz outside the Lone Star State with his syrupy slow delivery and thick Texas twang. Slim has never recaptured this sort of mainstream success, but Already Platinum is still one of my favorite listens.

Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101

Young Jeezy

Jeezy’s 2005 release brought trap music to the masses (or at least to the forefront of my mind). The song “Go Crazy” went crazy, thanks in part to a verse from Jay Z, and all of a sudden, suburban high school kids like me were disciples of ATL hip hop. Look, I can’t identify with anything Jeezy has to say, but if it sounds good, I’ll listen to it. I’ve got so many memories of driving around to this album in my best friend’s Explorer, outfitted with a couple of comically oversized subwoofers and feeling like a bad ass. As cringe-worthy as those memories might be, they’re still fun to think about. Plus, this was just a great debut album.

Murray’s Revenge

Murs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H25vfOM3SU
The only repeat contributor on this list is 9th Wonder, so if you’re not a fan, you may not be pleased. But this list isn’t about you, IS IT? Murs and 9th Wonder did a lot together, but this 2006 release has to be my favorite. The production and rhymes are on point throughout this entire album and reaches its climax with the wonderfully sampled title track. Bob James’ “Nautilus” has been sampled time and time again, but again, this is easily my favorite rendition. The song “Barbershop” is a great concept track that’s perfect for one of those days where you just got a raise, got the car cleaned, got a new pair of kicks on and of course, a fresh new haircut.

Hate any of my selections? Do we have any albums in common? Let me know! I’m excited to be here and can’t wait to hear from you. Cheers!

Honorable Mentions:
The Infamous – Mobb Deep
Doggystle – Snoop Dogg
Diplomatic Immunity 2 – The Diplomats
Uptown Saturday Night – Camp Lo
Ready to Die – The Notorious B.I.G.
Be – Common
Real Talk – Fabolous

The post Say “Hi” to your New Hip Hop Correspondent. appeared first on Just Noise To Me.