Once a year, the very finest in the realms of music, fashion, film, and visual arts converge in the City of Gold. Dubai, as you know, is a place filled with opulence and out-of-the-box occurrences. It is also home to one of the greatest lifestyle and culture festivals in the world, Sole DXB. Now in its eighth year, Sole went from being a small gathering of like-minded hip-hop heads to a full-blown, branded-and-themed festival attracting over 20,000 people. (Dubai is also, incidentally, where I was born; I live in Montreal now.)
This year's iteration boasted a Jumpman building with Ray Allen and Melody Ehsani as guests, a whole-ass graffitied metro train by Adidas, and just about every brand you can imagine. The theme this time around was “Jamaica,” with artists like Koffee and the legendary Lee "Scratch" Perry in tow—sans the smoke, obviously, as Dubai is ganja-free. But the vibes were still irie. Featuring sets by the Wu-Tang, Black Star, Proteje, YBN Cordae, and Dave East, Sole was both exhilarating and exhausting. I got to rock a solo set with my mans Thanks Joey as well. Between all the jet lag and shopping, here are a few amazing things I took away from the festival.
Once a year, the very finest in the realms of music, fashion, film, and visual arts converge in the City of Gold. Dubai, as you know, is a place filled with opulence and out-of-the-box occurrences. It is also home to one of the greatest lifestyle and culture festivals in the world, Sole DXB. Now in its eighth year, Sole went from being a small gathering of like-minded hip-hop heads to a full-blown, branded-and-themed festival attracting over 20,000 people. (Dubai is also, incidentally, where I was born; I live in Montreal now.)
This year's iteration boasted a Jumpman building with Ray Allen and Melody Ehsani as guests, a whole-ass graffitied metro train by Adidas, and just about every brand you can imagine. The theme this time around was “Jamaica,” with artists like Koffee and the legendary Lee "Scratch" Perry in tow—sans the smoke, obviously, as Dubai is ganja-free. But the vibes were still irie. Featuring sets by the Wu-Tang, Black Star, Proteje, YBN Cordae, and Dave East, Sole was both exhilarating and exhausting. I got to rock a solo set with my mans Thanks Joey as well. Between all the jet lag and shopping, here are a few amazing things I took away from the festival.
1. Shabab International Reigns Supreme
One of the most popular popups at Sole DXB was that of streetwear label Shabab International. The brainchild of Zee, Cheb Moha, and Chndy, it serves as a lifestyle and leisure brand as well as a creative consultancy/visual production crew. Shabab has really taken over the region, and could very well take over the world. Boasting supporters like Anwar Hadid, Dua Lipa, and Canada’s Majid Al-Maskati, their clothing sells out as soon as it touches the interwebs, boasting collabs with the likes of Yasiin Bey, Amongst Few, and more to come. Cheb and Chndy have altered the visual landscape of the region, creating visuals and lookbooks for brands including Gucci, Carhartt, Louis Vuitton, and Nike, to name a few. With Zee acting as their cerebrum, the two photographers and style icons (don't you dare call them influencers) have somewhat of a cult following (and copycat following) in the region. Next year promises to be a big one for the group. (Bonus facto, Zee and Moha are twins and grew up in Calgary.)
2. Black Star Is Officially Back
I've known Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey for half a decade now, having had the privilege of working with them each individually on videos and music. Last time I saw them live, I had the opportunity to document them for Kweli and Anderson Paak's collaboration "Traveling Light," shadowing them over Dave Chapelle's Radio City Music Hall run for his 30th comedy anniversary. Sole was the first time I've seen them overseas, and let it be known that Black Star is back. I had the honour of hopping up on stage with them, performing A Tribe Called Red's "R.E.D." with Yasiin live together for the first time ever, right in my birthplace. I also got to hear some of their sophomore album in their trailer, and man oh man. With production strictly done by the legendary Madlib and sharp, unapologetic lyrics by both Kweli and Bey, the new LP is really going to be something special. I can't wait for the world to hear it. Their performance was also flawless, backed by DJ Clark Kent, with music from both of their catalogues running seamlessly from beginning to end. They actually brought rain down in the Arabian Gulf, which is even rarer than an album from the Bethlehem and Nazareth of rap.
3. Freek Might Be the Arab World's First Drill Star (and I'm Not Talking About Oil)
Somali Abu Dhabi resident Freek is taking the Arab World by storm. With his lead single "Wala Kilma" (translation: "Say Less") banging through streets from Khalidiyah to Mogadishu earlier this year, Freek is set to drop an album in 2020 that promises to make noise around the world. Originally a video director, Freek developed a unique style of mixing Arabic lyrics with trap drums in an Auto-Tune'd bonanza of sarcasm and strength. He is one of my favourite people to both talk to and watch perform. He recently opened for Gucci Mane and Future, and ended up going from the Adidas pop-up to the main stage when both Wiley and Burna Boy didn't show up to the festival. His fiery show is set to debut this month in London and, visa-pending, worldwide. Follow him here.
4. YBN Cordae Breaks the Festival
By the time young phenom YBN Cordae hit the Puma Stage, he was already the talk of Sole. He was mentioned as the torchbearer of this generation by Yasiin Bey and Bobbito during Black Star's artist talk, DJ Clark Kent was vocally hyped about his presence at the festival, and the man was generally attracting the kind of hype you'd expect to come with being a Grammy-nominated 22-year-old. So it checks out that his electrifying performance drew one of the biggest crowds of the weekend. His energy was sincere and humble backstage, but I could see in his eyes that he knew he was on the rise. Cordae is already working on new music, so keep your ears peeled.
5. I'mma Let You Finish, But Hassan Hajjaj Is the Greatest Artist of All Time
Kanye may speak of himself in God-like terms, but there is one man who is single-handedly documenting the international community of musicians and creatives within His Own Universe. Hassan Hajjaj is a worldwide icon. You may have seen his work on the cover of the New York Magazine, on which Cardi B was treated to his distinct mix of high-end fashion iconography and classic Morrocan-chic. Hajjaj, aka Andy Wahlo (a play on the fact people call him the Andy Warhol of North Africa), is everyone's favourite photographer in the region. He is also revered for his unique, colourful, and distinct way of styling the environment and subject, taking you to the souqs of Marrakesh and the streets of London with every single frame. This time around, he was on hand at Sole shooting the Wu-Tang Clan rocking head wraps, as well as just about everyone who came to the festival, from myself to Koffee to Dave East. His subjects range from Madonna to Will Smith, Rashid Taha to Mobb Deep. If you are ever in front of his lens, consider yourself blessed. Hassan Hajjaj is a legend and I am ready to give him all the flowers in the world.