A Guide to Hip Hop at Extra Chill Fest 2024

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A Guide to Hip Hop at Extra Chill Fest 2024
Published: August 6, 2024

Charleston Hip Hop collective UnHeard Ent. will perform at Extra Chill Fest 2024. Photo by Steve Aycock.

Extra Chill Fest 2024 is less than a week away. Rock, jazz, pop, alternative, funk, soul all under one roof, being performed on one of Charleston’s home base music venues, the Charleston Pour House. Woven in the seams of this curation is a subtle, yet ‘hellaciously potent’ dash of hip hop, represented by voices that are leading the genre of live hip hop into a new age of renaissance here in Charleston.

Here is a rundown of what you can expect from the hip hop portion of the Extra Chill Fest 2024 lineup.

JTRawww

Columbia-based rap artist JTRawwww will be taking the stage at this year’s Extra Chill Fest! Renowned for his one-of-a-kind sound and undeniable bravado, JTRawwww has carved out a unique niche in the underground music scenes from Columbia to Charleston.

JTrawww – “Ain’t Nuthin’” Video (2023)

UnHeard Entertainment

UnHeard Entertainment will perform a 30 minute set on the deck stage at Extra Chill Fest 2024. Photo by Clif Rhodes.

Representing the renaissance of hip hop on The Pour House deck for this year’s Extra Chill Fest is UnHeard Entertainment. This explosive collective of artists is known for their unique ability to blend classical hip-hop sounds with a raw, militant delivery that tackles pressing social issues such as racial injustice and societal constructs. With a commitment to mastering their craft, UnHeard Entertainment and their performance at the festival will be a highlight for all in attendance. 

Nu from UnHeard Ent., at the Music Farm during our Rage and Wu-Tang Tribute in June. Photo by Clif Rhodes.

UnHeard consists of a talented lineup, including Nu, Jordan The Chemi$t, MostWantedStef, along with the recent additions of Dre Tha Poet and Tony Shot Me. In 2023, they made a significant impact on the Charleston hip hop scene, flooding it with individual album releases and electrifying performances at popular venues like The Royal American and LoFi Brewing. 

Their collective efforts did not go unnoticed, as they garnered nominations for Rap Act of the Year by the Charleston City Paper, solidifying their status as one of the region’s most promising names.

UnHeard: Rising Charleston Hip Hop

One of their most notable performances was at the Wu-Tang vs. Rage Against the Machine tribute show hosted by Extra Chill at the iconic Music Farm. This event showcased their ability to pay homage to hip hop legends while infusing their unique style and message into the performance. 

UnHeard’s artistry resonates deeply with local fans, as they deliver thought-provoking lyrics alongside captivating stage presence, making them a must-see act for anyone who appreciates the ‘liquid swords’ style-set.  

As the first hip hop group to take the stage on the deck for this year’s Extra Chill Fest, UnHeard is set to bring a powerful blend of intellect and artistry with raw energy to match. Nu’s high-level lyricism, militant approach armored with black excellence, MosStef’s verbal mastery paired with alternative exploration of universal laws, and Jordan The Chemi$t’s storytelling, fueled with a smooth yet gritty delivery create a potent mix that embodies the essence of true hip hop. 

With their upcoming performance, UnHeard is poised to solidify their place as a household name amongst local hip hop enthusiasts and continue their journey toward making a lasting impact on the music scene.

The GranDaddi Caddi Experience

Slim SOUL & MoonKatDaddi make up the GranDaddi Caddi Experience, performing on the main stage.

This year’s Extra Chill Festival at Charleston Pour House features one of Charleston’s newest alternative underground hip hop sensations known as “Grandaddi Caddi”. This ‘experimental hip hop jam band’ is a collaborative project of the creative innovations of Slim SOUL and MoonKatDaddi.

“We are bringing a full experience with no shortage of high Energy high vibes AND a full band” said MoonKatDaddi on what to expect at this year’s Fest.

Slim SOUL, hip hop artist and founder of Soul Power Productions has been a staple in the resurgence of the local hip hop community and continues to amplify the underground with the addition of recording studio, Soul Inn Studios.  

MoonKatDaddi arrived in Charleston in early 2023 from the greater Columbia, SC area and has taken the scene by storm with his unique blend of live instrumentation, classic hip hop, and psychedelic funk.

Slim SOUL with U-Tang at the Music Farm. Photo by Steve Aycock.

Behind the Name

The name ‘GranDaddi Caddi’ came just as organically as their fusion musically.

“It came about as a joke based on our temperaments being that of old men,” said MoonKatDaddi.”So I had a vision of us as grumpy old men (like the old school 90’s movie) but riding in style in a Caddi (Cadillac) instead of a boat.”

Their sound is a very unique blend of funk, hip hop, live music, and collaborative prowess. This is the lifeblood that sealed their connection sonically.  

“We are both ‘live loopers’ and have a lot of similarities in style and vibes,” stated MoonKat on the matter.

Collaboration & Special Guests

Grandaddi Caddi’s live performance consists of the duo rapping and singing over live instrumentals, consisting of custom loops, classic samples, and a multi-genre library of sounds. As they’ve grown and solidified their sound, they consistently add various special guests to their live performance, creating an authentic experience like none other in the city.

“For me, it’s always been building or creating the beats, but not being able to get that same feel live.” said Slim SOUL.

“With Grandaddi Caddi we have the players-and the collaboration is there to bring ideas to light that I haven’t been able to bring myself. Teamwork makes the dream work!”

Grandaddi Caddi brings a fresh perspective to hip hop and it constantly evolves with their experimentation with different sounds and different artists. With these additions will come more performances, new music, and we are fortunate to get a main stage look at the full ensemble at this year’s Extra Chill Fest! 

“We’ve finally got a good group with us and we all have ideas we want to work with so we are excited to see what we improv on stage come together in the studio!” said Slim Soul.