Hyphenated-Life: H-Life Concert Series: UCR Heat Festivle 2008

Pusha T

“Lights Out Lights Out, Everything Black”, the voice from the speaker commanded. In an instance the crowd went silent and was immediately covered in the darkness of the night. A silhouette emerged from back stage with a Flash Light attached to its head. The cameras in the media pit began to flash, and shoot even more light into the atmosphere, “We don't need light, we are the light”, again chanted the mysterious figure. As the DJ’s cued the classic soul vinyl through the speakers, the lights blasted the massive crowd to reveal Brooklyn’s finest decked out in a fresh pair of J’s and a Crooks and Castle’s Back Pack. “Mos Def, Mos Def, Mos Def…” chanted the crowd. Thus began my experience at the UCR Heat 2008 music festival.

Mos Def

The “Katrina” sized rain drops were no match for the fire that scorched that stage. Years prior saw the likes of Lupe Fiasco light up the stage. The lineup this year was sure to make the event even hotter. Ranging from Moby to Circa Survive, Mos Def to The Clipse, and Girl Talk to 311, the fans in attendance were in for a real treat. In total there were three stages and 17 acts, 17! A music lover could go crazy.

Riverside Mutha Fucka!!!

Riverside isn’t what you call the most “happenist” place around, so when something like Heat comes around, they go all out. There were a million over priced food stands, go figure when you’re paying 31 bucks for 17 acts, as well as a semi-club/ Dance Tent. The festival started at 6pm with performances by a couple of underground and local acts and DJ’s, such as Aloe Blacc on the Jam Stage, and Low B on the main stage.

Aloe Blacc

I’m a Hip-hop head so my main focus was on Mos Def and The Clipse performances. With my trusty media Badge around my neck and a slick tongue, ya boy was able to get on stage a couple of times. Mos Def came out rockin' the crowd from jump. Not only was dude fresh, but he came out spittin' fresh tracks off his upcoming album. Trust me when I say, that shit is fire. The crowds were huge, the food was expensive, and the floor was muddy, but the music made up for all that. Mos Def ended his set with a couple of fan favorites such as: “UMI Says”, “Traveling Man” and “Ms. Fat Booty”, which he spit over the original sample; Dope.

After the Mos Def set was over I made my way over to the Jam stage where the Clipse were going to perform. After a couple of friendly words with the security guards (Mouthpiece gets you anything in this world), I was soon on stage with the Clipse taking pictures and vibin’ with the crowd. Malice and Pusha T came out and it was like old times.

The Clipse

Highlights from the set were “Grinding”, “Mr. Me Too”, and Brand new off their new Mixtape: We Got it For Cheap vol.3, “20k Money Making Brothers on the Corner”. Liva and Sandman of the Re-Up Gang were also in the house as well to rock it. By the end of the event my kicks were trash, my ears were gone, but man was that shit hot.