Photos by Clif Rhodes
High energy and good vibes filled the outdoor lot at The Royal American downtown on Saturday at Cultura Festival 2023. People across the Charleston area gathered to support a lineup stacked with South Carolina hip-hop and R&B artists and headlined by New Orleans rapper Curren$y.
Artists on the bill include Charleston acts Mike Brown, Tyrie, R Dotta and Illa Dell; Columbia-based Crucial BGR, SunRhé and Just Alex (also known as Melodik); and Hartsville-based Bluflame James. The diverse acts highlighted the unique subtleties of the hip-hop and R&B genres, but also the grit and determination it takes to carve out space for oneself.
Tyrie, who won Hip-hop Act of the Year in the 2022 City Paper Music Awards, performed his new single “Balenciaga Dreams.” Bluflame James just released his newest album Digital Danger on May 1.
Just Alex gave a beautiful performance and encouraged the crowd to tap into the moment. Charleston’s own Mike Brown released his latest recording project, Her, earlier this year.
Up-and-coming progressive pop artist SunRhé just released the single “Fire” to follow up her 2020 debut LP Lavender. Crucial BGR followed up her performance with a barrage of high intensity songs.
Cultura Festival headliner Curren$y is a nationally known artist who’s previously collaborated with Wiz Khalifa and T.I.
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