Atlanta’s creative scene all came together this past Saturday to meet in West Midtown for Heat Index, a prelude event to the upcoming Heat Wave ATL experience on July 12.
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Heineken 0.0 & F1 Pop Up in Chelsea for Player 0.0 Finals!
Sound Clashes trace their roots to 1950’s Jamaica where crews and soundsystems competed against each other, song for song. Exclusive records known as ‘dubplates’ involving the original ‘dubbing’ or remixing its lyrics exclusively for a crew to play in battle against another. The more exclusive the song, the better.
In 2010, Red Bull adapted the traditional concept, birthing their own version: Culture Clash. Various crews unite to battle each other, amplifying diverse genres like Trap, Hip-Hop, Dancehall, Afrobeats, and more. The event has since hit cities worldwide, from London to San Francisco and Miami.
The global experience first made its way to Atlanta in 2017, where hitmakers like Mike WiLL Made-It, WondaGurl and British rapper Tinie Tempah took over 787 Windsor in Downtown Atlanta and shut down their respective stages. Despite Dancehall artist Popcaan’s absence, Team Unruly took home the win.
This year, though, Jamaica managed to redeem themselves as the rightful owners of sound clashes with Rum Punch Brunch, led by the legendary Dancehall & Reggae Deejay Tony Matterhorn and Willy Chin taking home the trophy after battling Bamba Tuesdays, Mashup Sessions and Perreo404.
Bamba Tuesdays and Rum Punch Brunch are two of the biggest parties in Atlanta solely dedicated to the expansive Afro-Caribbean community.
DJ Kash and friends take over Rock Steady for Bamba Tuesdays every Tuesday night for a lively weeknight out, while Rum Punch Brunch at Believe Music Hall, led by André Ruddock (Dreggae), Allan “Boom” Williams, and Karl Injex, turns Sundays into a fun day.
Prior to the inception of parties like Bamba Tuesdays and Rum Punch Brunch, opportunities for the city’s African and Caribbean communities to come together for unfiltered fun and authentic vibes were scarce. These parties have significantly transformed the Afro-Caribbean party culture in Atlanta for the better, providing a space for people to dance and celebrate various genres and artists, and honor cultural influences collectively.
On the opposite side of the arena stood Mashup Sessions, a renowned event series helmed by DJ Unruely and Canterbury Talez, and Perreo 404, Atlanta’s top Latin party destination featuring DJ EU and Nino Augustine. As far as I knew it, both of these crews were the “underdogs” of the night, especially when compared to the larger crowd supporting Rum Punch Brunch and Bamba Tuesdays.
Perreo 404. Credit: Brian Hall / Red Bull Content Pool
After a high energy performance from Atlanta’s own Crime Mob and a few words from the night’s hosts’ Jessie Woo and Paige Shari, a warm-up round was enacted for each team to go over the rules. The rules, in question, were pretty simple: Four rounds, 8 minutes per crew each round, no repeats and the team with the loudest applause wins.
However, with alcohol and Red Bull flowing through every attendee’s veins, strict enforcement of these rules seemed unlikely. Despite the rule that once a crew plays a song, it cannot be repeated by another crew, this was completely disregarded throughout the battle.
By the second round, both Bamba Tuesdays and Rum Punch Brunch played the popular southern anthem “Swag Surf” by F.L.Y. Except, Bamba Tuesdays took it a step further by bringing out F.L.Y. to perform it live. Judging by the explosive crowd reaction, it was obvious that Bamba had that round in the bag.
Despite the murky rules, each crew did a great job at capturing the essence of what a sound clash really is.
The nostalgia continued into round three, where Perreo 404 quickly showed their ability to compete with the big dogs when Roscoe Dash made a surprise appearance performing his 2010 hits “No Hands” and “Show Out”.
Mashup Sessions. Credit: Brian Hall / Red Bull Content Pool
Mashup Sessions brought out Young Nudy for a lively performance of “Peaches and Eggplants” during round three. Round one and three seemed to have the best energy that night. Or so I thought.
As the last round approached, tensions were high. The not-so light banter exchanged between Mashup Sessions and Rum Punch Brunch had elevated the intensity. In this case, trash talk was acceptable, particularly when delivered in the form of a dubplate.
But the trash talk didn’t hinder Rum Punch Brunch in the end. with a performance by Dancehall artists Vanessa Bling, recognized for her early work with Vybz Kartel. Serani and Aidonia. Teejay also came out and stole the show with a performance of his viral hit “Drift.”
The deserving winner of the trophy that night is open to debate. Naturally, people will claim that their favorite crew should have won. What’s undeniable, however, is that each of these crews has left an undeniable mark on Atlanta’s history.
Meet the Winner and Contestants of the Red Bull Batalla Miami Regional Qualifier (Part Two)
Sixteen freestyle rappers battled it out in Miami this past weekend for the Red Bull Batalla Regional Qualifier, testing their quick wits and killer lines for a chance to make it to the world stage and take home the title of best freestyler in the Spanish rap world.
Meet the Winner and Contestants of the Red Bull Batalla Miami Regional Qualifier (Part One)
Sixteen freestyle rappers battled it out in Miami this past weekend for the Red Bull Batalla Regional Qualifier, testing their quick wits and killer lines for a chance to make it to the world stage and take home the title of best freestyler in the Spanish rap world.
Red Bull Brought The Knockturnal to Miami to Explore the World’s Largest Freestyle Competition – and it did not disappoint
Attendees during Red Bull Batalla Miami Qualifiers at Skatebird in Miami, Florida on 26 of August, 2023 // Ian Witlen / Red Bull Content Pool
We all know Red Bull gives you wings, but did you know that it can also help people spit out fire?
That was the case in Miami this weekend when the top Spanish-language lyricists from all over the country delivered some brutal and precise lines at the Red Bull Batalla Regional Qualifier.
Now celebrating its 16th year, the Red Bull Batalla boasts the largest freestyle competition in the world, and the talent that flocked to Miami for the Regional Qualifier had The Knockturnal questioning if we were at the National Final instead.
Sixteen rappers, freestylers, dancers, and artists all around compete in three different regional qualifiers–with the previous qualifiers taking place in Los Angeles in July and Houston in August–to test their quick-witted rhyming strengths and prove why they should advance to the National Final in Dallas in November. The winner of the National Final will test their chops with top MCs from all over the world in the Red Bull Batalla World Final, taking place in Bogotá, Colombia, on December 2.
Sara Socas performs during Red Bull Batalla Miami Qualifiers at Skatebird in Miami, Florida on 26 of August, 2023 // Ian Witlen / Red Bull Content Pool
Ahead of the Miami Qualifier, Red Bull welcomed several journalists from across the country to stay in the art mecca neighborhood of Wynwood in Miami. This year’s contestants stayed at the Arlo Wynwood, a hotel with killer views of Wynwood Walls murals, and a gorgeous rooftop pool complete with occasional guest DJ parties. With the surrounding area of Wynwood full of art, culture, and great food, and with the influx of murals, graffiti, dancing, and Spanish-speaking hip-hop heavyweights intersecting at every corner, the stage was certainly set for the world’s largest freestyle competition.
In between graffiti workshop classes and Asian-Latin fusion dinners, the stage was also certainly set at an unsurprising venue where often these subcultures intersect: a skatepark. That’s right: the Red Bull Batalla Miami Regional Qualifier was set right in the middle of a half-pipe ramp, letting the crowd there certainly match the energy of the contestants freestyling for the Red Bull red, yellow, and blue-colored Batalla trophy, featuring a recording mic.
Apache performs during Red Bull Batalla Miami Qualifiers at Skatebird in Miami, Florida on 26 of August, 2023 // Ian Witlen / Red Bull Content Pool
The weekend started with a graffiti workshop class at the Miami Art Society, which detailed how the Wynwood neighborhood came to be, artists works in the gallery, and how graffiti often intertwined with hip-hop and freestyling. This was then followed by a graffiti lesson by Entes, a Peruvian-born graffiti artist who not only enlisted in the help of Red Bull staff and reporters to ultimately make a freestyling avian he cheekily called “Rooster,” but also created a spot-on Red Bull logo just by using his naked eye.
The night concluded with an Asian-Latin fusion dinner at El Chinito, just down the block from both Arlo Wynwood and the Miami Art Society. The dinner consisted of mixed fusion dishes such as carnitas shumai and watermelon “tuna” pizza; and Red Bull-inspired drinks such as the Chinito Summer (Red Bull Red Edition– watermelon – Tanqueray Gin, Peach Schnapps, lime juice, and simple syrup) and Buru Loko (Red Bull Coconut Berry, Tequila Blanco, Peychaud’s Bitters), as well as the standard Red Bull Vodka.
Before the show started on Saturday evening, several emcees chatted about their upbringings and how they got into freestyle, as well as what they had on their minds ahead of the competition. The scene was set once the show began: Red Bull brought out the Secret Walls crew to enter a real-time live painting battle during the qualifier. Artists Ruth Burotte Tamfee (@rutamfi) and Marlon Pruz (@marlonpruz) battled it out against artists @chnkfondue and @zoegen, unveiling an emcee-inspired work of art.
Judges for the qualifier included MC Snow, Chester, and Sara Socas, with co-hosts Racso White Lion and Sonja La Makina
Sourius competes against VNZ during Red Bull Batalla Miami Qualifiers at Skatebird in Miami, Florida on 26 of August, 2023 // Ian Witlen / Red Bull Content Pool
Leading the show and accompanied by DJ Cesar’s mixing abilities at the turntable. After the emcee was crowned the winner of the Miami Regional Qualifier–with a special guest appearance by El Misionero right before the final round–a Venezuelan rapper Apache gave the crowd a closing performance.
The fantastic weekend truly showcased the opportunity for young emcees to hone in their craft at the Red Bull Batalla and unite emcees from not only all over the country but around the world as young emcees in the United States make their way to the global stage.
Read our interviews with AdonysX, JD, and Crown here.
And our interview with Jay_Co “El Leon” and linked here.
SKRILLEX, GORDO, KAYTRANADA, HOT SINCE 82 AND FISHER HEADLINE ZENYARA WEEKEND TWO
CMG once again dominated weekend two of Coachella festival, April 21-23, 2023, with incredible featured programming at ZENYARA Estate all three nights, for the second consecutive week. Programming at ZENYARA was highlighted by a daytime party for SHEIN’s Zeuphoria, which continued all night long into a late night affair, headlined by Kaytranada and Fisher. TAO once again hosted TAO Desert Nights on Friday, April 21 headlined by Gordo, and Sunday night concluded with Skrillex, Francis Mercer, Camelphat, Hot Since 82 presented by CMG and Framework, with partners Red Bull, Heineken Silver and Tequila Don Julio.
Tao Group Hospitality Hosts Star-Studded Coachella Weekend Events
Celebrities, influencers, and VIPs came out to the luxurious Cavallo Ranch in Coachella Valley to party with Tao Group Hospitality all weekend long. The Cavallo Ranch is a stunning venue that features a sparkling blue lake, adorned with a golden TAO logo in the middle.
@theknockturnal.com We got to check out Red Bull Dance Your Style secret party in Downtown Los Angeles! #theknockturnal #vlog #redbulldanceyourstyle #redbull #danceyourstyle @Red Bull Dance #bts #fyp #foryou #dance #streetdance #party #losangeles ♬ original sound - rennyxaudios
On Wednesday March 23rd, The Knockturnal got an exclusive invite to a secret party taking place in Down Town Los Angeles.
New York City’s own Salinas, played host for Red Bull’s annual Spanish Freestyle Battle Olympics Dinner. The event in celebration is commonly known as Red Bull Batalla.