Legendary US rap group Wu-Tang Clan and UK hip-hop and grime star Wiley have both been confirmed as headliners at this year’s Sole DXB festival. Sole DXB is one of Dubai’s longest-running festivals and every year thousands of music and fashion fans head along to d3 to check out the latest in street wear, street art and top live music.
Well, the cool street cultural festival will be returning for its eighth edition and we’ve just got news of the line-up for 2019 and we’ve got say – it’s absolutely mega.
Get ready for some of the biggest names across the globe to take to the stage this year, spanning 40 years of hip-hop, soul, reggae and R&B – and all in one venue.
As of now the confirmed acts are as follows:
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan are without a doubt one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time. Celebrating 25-years in the business with a sold-out tour, a headline slot at Glastonbury Festival and two incredible TV series, they head to Sole DXB to perform some of their greatest hits. Rap fans, are you ready? This is going to be a big one.
Black Star
The rap duo, Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli, will be returning to Sole DXB for the second year running and will be showcasing some new material.
Wiley
The East London grime MC, rapper, songwriter, DJ and record producer will be taking to the main stage and will be smashing some of his biggest hits. He’s one of the most recognised artists in the UK and recently received an MBE (which is sort of like the Queen’s seal of approval).
Burna Boy
The Nigerian singer has been called the face of “afro-fusion” because of his ability to blend the sounds of West Africa with elements of dancehall and hip-hop. Find him headlining the main stage on the Friday.
Rico Nasty
This rap queen from New York City knows how to rock a live show. Warning: a mosh pit is pretty much guaranteed.
Dave East
The rapper and actor is on a roll at the moment and has recently released two singles which are already making waves. He’s also receiving rave reviews for his portrayal of Method Man in the Hulu mini-series: Wu-Tang: An American Saga. Could a collab on stage be on the cards?
Koffee
She may only be 19 years old but she’s already a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the impact she’s making on the reggae scene – and now at an international level – and will be bringing a flavour of the Caribbean to Dubai.
YBN Cordae
One of the most exciting young rappers of the moment.
Protoje
The Grammy-nominated songwriter from Jamaica became an international name when single Who Knows featuring Chronixx topped global charts in 2014, and amassed over 70 million views on YouTube – his star status has just continued to grow ever since.
Foreign Beggars
The London-based band which formed in 2002 make hip-hop, grime, and dubstep. Almost all of the Foreign Beggars’ output is collaborative which enables the group to cover a wide range of styles.
Lila Ike
The Jamaican songbird might be just 25 years-old and yet to release a full studio album, but is already being heralded as one of the most exciting new voices of the reggae revival. With four critically-acclaimed singles and a summer of electrifying festival performances in the bag, she’s expected to bring some serious soul to Sole.
Sevana
With a voice that’s at times reminiscent of the legendary Lauren Hill and at other times of the eccentric Solange, her success seems pretty much guaranteed. Expect non-stop soulful vibes.
Yassin ’Narcy’ Alsalman
The leading MC makes his return to Sole DXB, this time with a performance on the main stage. The author, actor, videographer, visual artist and musical champion has worked with everyone from Dave Chapelle to Spike Lee to fellow main stage artists Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey.
Xharlie Black
Xharlie Black is notorious for breaking the boundaries between hip-hop, jazz and R&B. Expect eccentric fusion at this year’s festival.
The festival will be taking place on Thursday December 5, Friday December 6 and Saturday December 7 and tickets are now on sale – it’s Dhs245 for a day pass of Dhs375 for the weekend pass. Click here to nab yours now.
From Dhs245. Thu Dec 5, 6pm-10pm, Dec 6-7, noon-10pm. Dubai Design District, www.soledxb.com.
