birthday bash
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This past Saturday, June 22, 2024, Atlanta celebrated its 29th annual Birthday Bash, making history with its first female headliner, hometown hero Latto. Latto, who has spent the better half of her career working Atlanta’s underground scene before becoming a household name in 2021, gave fans the show they asked for, bringing out guests such as Usher, Flo Milli, Mariah the Scientist, Summer Walker, Roscoe Dash, Rasheeda, Princess of Crime Mob, and 21 Savage.
Her emphasis on honoring the pioneers from the city’s various eras of trap and swag who came before her put the perfect cherry on top of Latto’s high-energy set and left the memorable impression she was aiming for. Everything from Swag-era songs like “No Hands”, “Whoop Rico”, “Crank Dat Yank” and “Crank That Batman” to old-era Atlanta cuts like “Freak It” and Crime Mob song “Stilletos” helped bridge the generational gap and engaged the audience all night. Performing her hit songs “Sunday Service”, “Put it on the Floor”, “MuWop” and “Queen of the South” to an audience of over 16,000 fans, the show’s response added another milestone to her career and its ascent.
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In addition to Latto’s set, Atlanta collective Dungeon Family took the stage, giving a touching tribute to their comrade and legendary producer, Rico Wade. Performing a mix of posse cuts from “Dirty South”, “Cell Therapy” and “Kryptonite” as well as songs from Killer Mike’s Grammy award-winning Michael album (Killer Mike was also honored with the inaugural Rico Wade Game Changer Award), their set went hand in hand with another Atlanta staple, Big Oomp Records.
Recognized as Atlanta’s first independent record label, they performed “Eastside vs Westside” by Baby D and Atlanta’s unofficial anthem, “ATL Hoe”. Hot 107.9 also started a new tradition by awarding Killer Mike the Rico Wade Game Changer Award to commemorate Atlantans who helped change the city with their music.
Other notable acts included Key Glock, Boosie Badazz, Tee Grizzley, Skilla Baby, Hunxho, Rob49, Dess Dior, Famous YB and Sally and Bossman DLow, whose hit songs, “Mr Pot Scraper” and “Get in With Me” have rap fans across the country clamoring for more.
Forever acting as a platform for indie artists as well, Birthday Bash conducted the Who’s Hot Competition to give several of the city’s independent artists a stage to perform. Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash, which features some of the rap’s biggest artists from T.I. and Jeezy to OutKast and more, has given fans and artists alike the stage they needed to make it big since its start in 1995.
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The adulations for Killer Mike just keep on coming as the Grammy Award winning rapper continues to add new hardware to his trophy case with the latest honors coming straight out The A.
This past Saturday (June 22) the Michael rapper became the very first recipient of the inaugural Rico Wade Game Changer Award and was bestowed with the honor during Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash concert in his hometown of Atlanta, GA. After taking the stage along with a few members of his Dungeon Family, Killer Mike was presented with the award for his contributions to the Hip-Hop community in Atlanta and needless to say, the man was blown away by the surprise decoration.
Killer Mike was blessed with the award by Rico Wade’s mother, Beatrice Wade, and his sons Rico Jr. and Ryder. Also on hand to present the award were the surviving members of Organized Noize Productions, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown.
“I just wanna tell Atlanta this: y’all ain’t gotta wish to be nobody else. Who y’all are is the absolute shit,” said Killer Mike. “I don’t give a damn where in the world you at, there’s no place for Black people like Atlanta. There’s no place with this much opportunity, this much love, this many chances to do it. And I wanna thank the woman who raised Rico Wade, his mama.”
In an effort to keep Rico Wade’s legacy alive (Wade passed away this past April), Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced the launch of the Rico Wade Music Executive Training Program during Wade’s funeral service this past April.
Check out video of the presentation of the award below and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
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Hot 107.9 has announced their upcoming annual Birthday Bash concert in a big way, with headliner artist Latto roaming Atlanta to spread the news.
One of Atlanta, Georgia’s hottest events, Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash is coming up soon (June 22). And the rap ingenue Latto took to the streets to ensure that everyone knows about the 2024 edition Birthday Bash and its lineup in style. The “Put It On The Floor Again” rapper rolled out with a caravan of 20 Black Suburban SUVs to announce the news of the concert to fans around the city on a bullhorn. She will be the first woman artist to ever headline the event.
The entire drive to the radio station was captured on video – including a pit stop at Walgreens so Latto could get her makeup fixed due to the high winds. The two-time Grammy Award nominated artist arrived with her entourage and spoke about what it means to be the headliner for the concert, which will be held at State Farm Arena on Saturday, June 22. “I love my city, my city had my back,” Latto said before imploring listeners to get their tickets. Baby, I’m telling you now. Get your tickets now. Don’t be calling me,” she said as the crowd gathered in the studio laughed and cheered.
The Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash 2024 is high-powered when it comes to the lineup already announced. As mentioned before, Latto will be the headliner with special guests joining her onstage, fresh off of the buzz of her latest single “Sunday Service”, where she delivered some biting lyrics seemingly aimed at another rising rap star, Ice Spice: “These b—–es corny, soon as monkey see, then you know monkey do/ Do you rap or do you tweet?/ ‘Cause I can’t tell, get in the booth, b—h.” Also getting top billing will be Boosie, Hunxho, Killer Mike and Key Glock. The rest of the lineup is filled out by Tee Grizzley, Famous Sally & YB with more artists to be announced at a later date.
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