Soundset 2010: What to Watch

P.O.S at Soundset 2009

Photo by Denis Jeong Plaster

​Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and that means it's time for Soundset 2010 to take over the parking lot of Canterbury Park in Shakopee. Every year, the annual Rhymesayers-sponsored hip-hop festival features a mix of local heroes, classic legends, and up-and-comers who might just be the next breakout rap star. Not simply a show, Soundset 2010 promises to be a celebration of hip-hop culture, featuring visual artists, skateboarders, and breakdancers in addition to the bevy of musical talent that's gracing the various stages throughout the day Sunday.

Here's a quick grab bag of things you don't want to miss:

Hieroglyphics, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Souls of Mischief

With Atmosphere and Brother Ali as the Rhymesayers stalwarts at the top of the page and Method Man & Redman (who will always live in the 36 Chambers in my mind) as the big national act this year, it's be easy to forget about this Oakland collective who have have been serving it up weird and funky for 20 years. Hopefully the collective nature of the acts--Del solo and with Hieroglyphics, along with collective mates Souls--will allow for some back-and-forth collaboration flow that you won't get to see anywhere else.

The B-boy/B-girl competition

It doesn't matter if you've never watched breakdancing up close and personal, or if you consider yourself an expert; this competition is fierce, skilled, and a great display of the individual "spin" that sets a true badass apart from the masses. (Yup, "spin," I went there.)

The Fifth Element Stage

Busdriver, Dessa, Themselves, Fashawn, Toki Wright, Yelawolf, Prof with Rahzwell, A.R.M, Dark Time Sunshine, Cecil Otter, Ernest Rhodes, Mike Dreams, Ice Rod, I.B.E, DJ Snuggles & DJ Anton. That's the second stage? Seriously?

The live painting wall

Anyone who's ever dismissed graffiti as a blight on the urban landscape should go watch what goes down on this wall throughout the day. Put together in partnership with Ironlak and Seven Letter Crew, it will feature painting by Sever, Pose, Risk, and Ewok.

Soundset 2010 takes place this Sunday, May 30 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee. All ages. For tickets and info call 612.377.0044 or visit soundsetfestival.com.