CMJ 2012: Guide to Performances by Rap’s Elite and R&B’s Stars
All the real music heads in New York City (and from all over the world) know exactly where to be this week to fulfill their tastes for artists who are diamonds in the rough. The CMJ Music Festival, which is back again for its 32nd year with showcases, parties, panels and workshops, will be held throughout the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan from Tuesday October 16 to Saturday October 20.
Many emerging acts across genres can be found during the festival right before their blossoming moment. Virtually unknown in the early 2000s, Janelle Monae, a 2008 CMJ alumna, carried her infectious theatrical soul to success the following two years with her debut album, The ArchAndroid Suite II. Harlem's own A$AP Rocky and Compton spitter Kendrick Lamar, who both performed at CMJ showcases in 2011, made respective impact in 2012.
This year is no different with "almost famous" acts in hip-hop and R&B appearing on various stages across the city. This includes 19-year-old West Coast rhymer and former Odd Future member Casey Veggies, who has been making his own way around the hip-hop scene for the past five years, and 17-year-old Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$, whose 1999 mixtape caused his name to buzz this summer. Also holding down the raw acoustics is 23-year-old Jennah Bell, a singer who owns organic soul and opened the 2012 BET Awards.
More established artists in the game including BIG K.R.I.T. and Robert Glasper Experiment will also be making appearances. Then there are veterans like Mystikal and Q-Tip. Seems like a lot of shows to catch, right? The BoomBox's guide to the 2012 CMJ Music Festival will make navigating the performances way easier. It's guaranteed to help any hip-hop and R&B lover, occasional or faithful, find their way.
Oct. 16
Robert Glasper Experiment
8PM
SOBs
200 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014
Oct. 17
Eric Roberson: SolVillage
9 PM
SOBs
200 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014
Oct. 17
Maffew Ragazino, Tek of Smif-n-Wessun & El Gant
7:30PM
The Paper Box
17 Meadow St.
Brooklyn, NY 11206
Oct. 17
Flatbush Zombies & Bodega Bamz
8PM
Santos Party House
96 Lafayette St.
New York, NY 10013
Oct. 17
Flying Lotus & Ali Shaheed Muhammad
9PM
Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker St.
New York, NY 10012
Oct. 17
Kilo Kish
10:45 PM
DROM
85 Ave. A
New York, NY 10009
Oct. 17
Nina Sky
10:50 PM
The Studio at Webster Hall
125 East 11th St.
New York, NY 10003
Oct. 18
Big K.R.I.T., Joey Bada$$ & Smoke DZA
6PM
SOBs
200 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014
Oct. 18
Casey Veggies, Mr MFN Exquire & Travi$ Scott
10PM
SOBs
200 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014
Oct. 18
GZA, Killer Mike & Haleek Maul
7PM
Irving Plaza
17 Irving Pl.
New York, NY 10003
Oct. 18
Chuck Inglish (of the Cool Kids) & Chase N Cashe
11PM
The Studio at Webster Hall
125 East 11th St.
New York, NY 10003
Oct. 19
Mystikal & Silkk the Shocker
6:30PM
Irving Plaza
17 Irving Pl.
New York, NY 10003
Oct. 19
Ghostface Killah & Asher Roth
8PM
Gramercy Theater
127 E. 23rd St.
New York, NY 10010
Oct. 19
AraabMUZIK
10:30PM
Webster Hall
125 East 11th St.
New York, NY 10003
Oct. 19
Q-Tip
11PM
Irving Plaza
17 Irving Pl.
New York, NY 10003
Oct. 19
City Aviv
8PM
Knitting Factory
361 Metropolitan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Oct. 19
Jennah Bell
6PM
Rockwood Music Hall
Stage 1
196 Allen St.
New York, NY 10002
Oct. 19
Jhene Aiko, Christian Rich & Bridget Kelly
11PM
200 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014
Oct. 20
Theophilus London & Chip tha Ripper
6PM
Gramercy Theater
127 E. 23rd St.
New York, NY 10010
See 15 of the Best Hip-Hop & R&B Albums of 2012 (So Far)
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