Idolator Takes On SXSW 2016 — Our Recap Of Day Four (Hint: DRAKE)
Whew! That’s a wrap at SXSW folks, and boy was it a whirlwind! Saturday (March 19) marked our last day in Austin, which ended in a major bang—but we’ll get to that later…
After having a much-needed brunch session at MAX’s Wine Dive, myself along with a few members of the SPIN and VIBE team headed to the always-entertaining Fader Fort where we stayed for the remainder of the day.
The first act we caught was D.C.’s own GoldLink. It is a tough feat to get a crowd to dance to rap songs, but the rapper was a complete ball of energy thanks to a vibrant set that mixed in hip-hop, house and DMV go-go. Next up was Anderson .Paak and The Nationals, who brought his laid-back California vibes (which included a live band and a nod to David Bowie‘s “Let’s Dance” classic) that eased the tense audience. It’s no wonder that Kendrick Lamar gave the singer/rapper a cosign!
We also caught Kelela for the second time at the fort, where she strutted across the stage like a snake charmer while performing fan favorites like “Enemy,” “Bank Head” and—her latest song—“Rewind.”
Many SXSW goers believed “Down in the DM” rapper Yo Gotti would be the closing act for the night—but they were in for a major surprise that came in from our pals up north. At this point, my legs were buckling and I was struggling to keep my eyes open. Yet the energy that filled the air as Toronto’s OVO Sound took over the Fader Fort was enough to keep myself and the rest of the aching crowd hyped.
Kicking off the surprise showcase was the rising crooner DVSN, who was succeeded by 19-year-old Brampton rapper Roy Wood$ (his wobbly-sounding performance of “Jealousy” and “Drama” was nothing to be remembered).
Of-the-moment OVO signees Majid Jordan and PartyNextDoor had the crowd in a daze with their hazy, dark R&B flair. Yet everyone quickly perked up once Drake—yes, that Drake—finally bum-rushed the stage with his massive and untouchable superstar presence.
The Toronto native excitedly ripped through tracks like What A Time To Be Alive‘s “Jumpman” and “Big Rings,” If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late‘s frontrunner “Energy” and the recently-released “Summer Sixteen.” Even producer Metro Boomin, who made a Fader appearance only a few days ago, couldn’t help but to join Drizzy on stage for his party-starting “Jumpman” anthem.
To say the vibes at Fader Fort was intense would be an understatement—OVO’s surprise showing in Austin was the perfect wrap to a truly fun-filled week at SXSW. Stay weird, everyone!
View some highlight videos from day four below.
@champagnepapi finally graced the #FaderFort stage!! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 || #SXSW #ovosound @ovosound #drake
A video posted by Idolator (@idolator) on
@majidjordan is here repping @ovosound at their surprise #FaderFort showcase! #SXSW
A video posted by Idolator (@idolator) on
.@GoldLink getting the crowd hyped at #FaderFort 🙏🏽 #SXSW https://t.co/ixhpiCTEK3
— Pusha Bi. (@BiancaEnRogue) March 19, 2016
It go down in the DM 😎😎 @YoGottiKOM #FaderFort #SXSW https://t.co/ugo0Nb9MYN
— Pusha Bi. (@BiancaEnRogue) March 20, 2016
#SXSW2016 Surprise! @Drake is slaying at #FaderFort right now #ovosound Watch… pic.twitter.com/uQjE67TrVe
— idolator (@idolator) March 20, 2016
Did you attend SXSW this year? Let us know your favorite showcases below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!
