Fans of hip-hop music were given a triple gift on Wednesday when the Roskilde Festival announced that American rappers Wiz Khalifa, Royce da 5’9”, and Yelawolf would all perform at the July festival.
Pittsburgh native Khalifa broke into the big time with his smash hit ‘Black and Yellow’, which hit the top spot on the US singles charts. His 2011 album, the marijuana-themed Rolling Papers, received mixed critical reviews but strong sales numbers. Khalifa’s September concert at Vega was sold out, so the American certainly has a strong Danish fan base.
The other two names both have strong ties to Eminem: fellow Detroit rapper Royce da 5’9” was an early collaborator with Slim Shady and recently partnered with him as the duo Bad Meets Evil, and Yelawolf’s new album Radioactive was released on Eminem’s Shady Records.
Royce da 5’9” was featured on Eminem’s debut album, The Slim Shady LP, but later had a high-profile falling out with his friend. The two, however, reconciled in a big way by releasing the 2011 joint album Hell: The Sequel under the group name Bad Meets Evil. Royce’s solo albums have never received large commercial success, but the veteran rapper is one of the most respected names in the game.
The comparisons between Alabama country boy Yelawolf and Eminem are inevitable, and not just because of their skin colour. Yelawolf exhibits the same white trash attitude pioneered by Eminem, but his musical style is more Dirty South than Detroit. Radioactive features a guest appearance by Eminem, as well as yet another Detroiter in the form of Kid Rock.
Wiz Khalifa and Yelawolf are longtime friends, so perhaps Roskilde attendees might see one join the otherÂ’s set.
The triple hip-hop announcement follows the leak that Bruce Springsteen would be playing Roskilde on July 7 and the festival’s official announcements of Icelandic singer Björk and American folk act Bon Iver.
