When I think of summertime, the first thing that comes to my mind is concerts and what tickets I can score before they’re all sold out. Thankfully, AfroPunk Fest is the best end of summer music festival to see all of your favorite artists, one last time before the sun sets early and the weather turns chilly. This years line up is a collection of fierce, unapologetically black artists featuring Brooklyn native Joey Badass, Harlems princess Teyana Taylor, Rapper/Producer Flying Lotus, Vince Staples, Baby Tate, the absolutely Iconic Durand Bernarr and more.
AFROPUNK Fest was held August 26th and August 27th, located at The Skyline Drive-in each day with its own headliner to close out the evening. Saturday night’s headliner was Rapper/Producer Flying Lotus and Sunday’s headliner was Teyana Taylor. The line up was out of this world! Saturday’s line up started off the day strong with Afrobeats on The 3 Ring Stage with DJ beauty Wemi. The Big Top Stage had the biggest stars back to back from 4:30 pm with Durand Bernarr. Durand Bernarr graced the stage dressed head to toe in a leather and metal chain ensemble, and the worlds most fabulous bedazzled tilted hat. His voice reigned near and far as everyone scrambled to listen to his angelic voice. Durand Bernarr is known for being unapologetically himself and bold with his dance moves, clothing and vocal runs/ range. His hit single “Mango Butter” was a crowd hit! Everyone sung along as he vogued across the stage glistening in the sun. Tobe Nwigwe followed Bernarr, in a mint green ensemble, accompanied by his choir in the background, to put on a powerful and spiritual performance. Vince Staples was the act that was nostalgic to me personally; Vince Staples has always been that type of Rapper and Producer that always brings his California swag to his music and stage. To close out the night, is Flying Lotus, a legendary Producer, DJ and Rapper. Flying Lotus had a set that was full of hypnotizing visuals and siren like music swirling into the atmosphere.
Durand Bernarr is the artist I had the pleasure of snagging an interview with after his rocking performance. The energy was so high and the love was predominant. Once he exited the stage, he greeted me with a double french style kiss and a compliment to my outfit. We started off the interview with his definition of Black love and Black Joy. He stated “Black love and black joy mean that regardless of what people have to say, you gone do you regardless. Because I don’t know how to be anyone else but me honey, unless I’m getting paid, but even that, ain’t no benefits in that. Black joy is the tenaciousness, the resilience and I am apart of an amazing legacy. Surround yourself with people that are going to build you up, acceptance means that you need permission, be around people that accept you, embrace you, sharpen you, its about your family at the end of the day”
Joey Badass is a Brooklyn native who took the main stage and brought a family and wholesome energy to the stage. Joey Badass is one of my favorite Rappers and performers who is so humble on and off the stage. His stage presence is captivating with an essence of soothing melodies and rhythms. His performance was all about what Brooklyn is about, it’s about family, love, community and celebrating music and our stories with each other. It felt like a big hug watching him perform his hits such as “Head High” and“Show me”. Backstage I greeted Joey Badass with a huge embrace because I was so excited to meet him. I’m also from Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy to be exact and I was so honored to share this moment with him. I posted our full interview on The Knockturnal’s instagram. http://Instagram.com/TheKnockturnal
A year out of retirement, The fabulous diva, Miss Teyana Taylor-Shumpert was the main headliner of day 2 of AFroPunk. Festival attendees rushed to fill the stage up with love and excitement for Mrs. Taylor. Teyana Taylor is one of the best performers of this generation and she knows how to captivate an audience with her sex appeal, deep & rich voice and killer dance moves. Teyana opened up her performance with stunt double backup dancers with tight choreography, an incredible set design, and hype man DJ. Taylor’s performance was from The Last Rose Petal 2…Farewell Tour. The iconic “Bear with Me” Singer brought out all her iconic outfits and even a surprise for the audience. It was a full family affair, as her two daughters Junie and Rue Rose, her husband, Iman Shumptert joined her on stage to sing “Wake up love” and “Gonna love me”. It was quite the emotional ending to AfroPunk fest. Teyana Taylor become emotional towards the end of the performance as she stated while crying “I just want to thank y’all so much. I came out of retirement to come to AfroPunk and I didn’t anyone would stay for me, but to see all of y’all gather and sing my songs with me warm my heart. Just please love on each other, turn to your neighbor and give them a hug, you never know what tomorrow holds”.
Bravo to Teyana and all of the amazing performers of AfroPunk 2023! I had the experience of a lifetime and thank you to everyone who made this possible! An honor and I will be back and looking froward to next year! Xo With love, form Veronika
