Coverage by: Dennis Byron and Inaee Aidoo

The Southeast’s largest annual urban progressive music festival came to an end on Sept. 9. This year’s festival boasted big names like 2 Chainz, T.I., Nas, Miguel, and so many more. With a diverse range of musical selections ranging from hip-hop to alternative, ONE Musicfest is one of the most highly anticipated events in the area.

With a total of over 40,000 attendees over the course of the weekend, the event was a huge success, to say the least. Not only was there live performances, by Atlanta natives and global artists alike, they even had lounges, cocktail tastings, arts & crafts, food trucks, and a vendor market.

The festival has come to an end this year, but follow @Onemusicfest or check out their website here for information on next year’s event.

Here’s a recap of some of the performances.

H.E.R.

After a few minutes of technical difficulties, and a sincere apology, r&b’s It girl hit the stage with her song “Say It Again”. Dressed in a red, white, and blue tracksuit, and her signature shades. H.E.R. has been on the scene for a while but for many people in the crowd that may have been the first time they’ve seen her face. In a time where looks are playing a heavier role in the industry than talent, H.E.R. reminds us what’s really important.

Her soulful voice and affinity for multiple instruments makes her a refreshing sight for eyes and ears. Her vocals got the chance to show off during “Best Part,” her duo with Daniel Cesear, one of the few artists shes collaborated with during her up and coming career. Things got hype during her set when she performed her song “2.” And she showcased one of her many talents during her rendition of Foy Vance’s “Make It Rain.”

Overall, despite the tardiness, the set was excellent.

Big Sean

Big Sean knows how to get people on their feet and this was evident in his performance. Big Sean has some Atlanta roots, and he paid homage to them by shouting out his late grandmother who “repped Atlanta hard.” He also took the time to tribute Mac Miller, who passed away from a drug overdose just a day before the festivities.

It wasn’t long before he got energetic. Sounding off hits like “Big Bank”, “Blessed”, and “Clique”, really made the performance noteworthy. He did do quite a bit of talking during his set, but it was all motivational. Touching on the Nike ordeal with Colin Kaepernick and following your own dreams. He wouldn’t be Big Sean if you didn’t make sure he touched the hearts of his audience.

St. Beauty

Atlanta natives, St. Beauty, hit the stage and had just as much fun as the crowd. Though they performed to a smaller audience early in the day, no doubt they’ll be back for bigger and better things. Their set included syncronized choreo to “Caught”, and a collaborative effort with rapper Deonte Hitchcock for “Waves.” At the end, they tributed “Lucid Dreams” to Mac Miller, Aretha Franklin, and other artists who’ve recently passed.

2 Chainz

Nas

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Nas brought the fire to the stage with his performance. Kicking it off with the one-two punch of “Not for Radio” and “The World is Yours.” Nas is reminiscent of older hip hop. He reminded us of this with “N.Y. State of Mind” which featured on his 1994 album “Illmatic.” Coming up with the likes of Jay-Z and Ice Cube, his rap is of a different caliber. But with hits like “Cops Shot The Kid” he lets us know he still has more to say.

Big Krit