After a thunderstorm spoiled their 2012 set, Slug and Atmosphere returned to the top slot during 2013's Soundset outside Canterbury Park in Shakopee. / Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Wiz Khalifa, Nas, 2 Chainz, Cypress Hill top Soundset 2014 lineup
Returning to the Canterbury Park grounds May 25, the seventh annual festival is riding its record-high 28,000 attendance from 2013.
March 5, 2014 at 6:14PM
The Twin Cities' biggest music festival might grow even bigger this year. Soundset organizers announced a 2014 lineup this morning that includes Wiz Khalifa, Nas, 2 Chainz, Cypress Hill, Earlwolf (Tyler the Creator + Earl Sweatshirt), Chance the Rapper and Pusha T along with the usual mob of local favorites, including Atmosphere, Prof, Lizzo, Toki Wright & Big Cats and hot newcomers Allan Kingdom and Dem Atlas. The day-long bash is scheduled Sunday, May 25 (Memorial Day weekend), once again on the grounds outside Canterbury Park in Shakopee.
Here's the full lineup:
Atmosphere / Wiz Khalifa / Cypress Hill / Nas / 2 Chainz / EarlWolf (Tyler The Creator & Earl Sweatshirt) / Pusha T / Chance The Rapper / Prof / Grieves / G-Eazy / Ab-Soul / DJ QBert / The Grouch & Eligh / Flatbush Zombies / Lizzo with Lazerbeak / Rapsody & 9th Wonder / Shad / deM atlaS / Snow Tha Product / Roc Marciano / Dosh / Jonwayne / D-Styles / Toki Wright & Big Cats / Will C / Allan Kingdom / Breakbeat Lou / Nacho Picasso / Freddy Fresh / Los Nativos / K.Raydio & Psymun / Mac Irv / Ecid / DJ Fundo / DJ Lean Rock / DJ D. Mil / DJ Sidereal.
After a memorable appearance at 2010's Soundset, Khalifa sold out the Minnesota State Fair grandstand in 2012 and thus was a shoo-in at the top of the lineup next to hometown hosts Atmosphere this year. Nas and Cypress Hill are '90s vets still revered by many modern hip-hop fans. Nas is touring behind the 20th anniversary of his landmark album "Illmatic." Earl Sweatshirt, Chance the Rapper and Pusha T all had 2013 efforts that showed up on year-end best-of lists.
Pre-sale ticket options will be announced Friday morning via Rhymesayers social-media channels. The general on-sale is Saturday at 11 a.m. General-admission ticket prices will start at $55 via Ticketweb.com or at Fifth Element record store in Uptown. VIP passes will also be available then for $125.
With popular out-of-towners Snoop Dogg and Mac Miller, last year's Soundset drew a record 28,000 fans despite unseasonably cool weather. Surely, Midwest fans are due ample amounts of warmth and sunshine this year. Please?
The seventh annaul installment will serve as the hometown release party for Atmosphere's eighth album, "Southsiders," details of which were announced Monday. Rhymesayers is also readying new records by its roster newcomers Dem Atlas and Prof, the latter of whom made a memorable appearance on very short notice last year just a few weeks after undergoing knee surgery (he filled in for Busta Rhymes). Conspicuously absent from the lineup are Brother Ali and P.O.S. The former is instead listed as a co-host. The latter will undergo his long-awaited kidney transplant next week and will likely still be recuperating in May. We wouldn't be surprised to see either dude perform at some point in the fest, though.
Here's a cool wham-bam video recap of last year's festival.
Lefse-wrapped Swedish wontons, a soothing bowl of rice porridge and a gravy-laden commercial filled our week with comfort and warmth.
