The most difficult challenge an artist may encounter is the struggle that comes with generating new fans while remaining true to their core audience. Fans often feel alienated when expansion happens too quickly. More than anything, it seems like they want to know that they are still being represented by the artists performing. Now apply this relationship between expansion and fans to the growth of a festival. For the past five years, Paid Dues has provided fans with the most consistent annual hip-hop festival, but with each year comes higher expectations as fans argue how Guerilla Union and Murs will be able to top themselves.  On Saturday April 2^nd, at the NOS Event Center in San Bernardino California, the sixth installment of Paid Dues demonstrated that the best way to bring in new fans is to bring in new artists that represent the Paid Dues culture, and in doing so this installment the most successful to date.

Considering how exhausting The NOS Events Center can be when it is hot, the often overcast and chilly weather was a much appreciated treat for the over 11,000 in attendance. In addition to the weather conditions being ideal, the festival as a whole was incredibly organized and efficient.  For fans, the absence of the Guerilla Union event cards, which were made mandatory last year at both Paid Dues and Rock the Bells, was an immediate sign that this is a promotion that listens to the concerns and desires of its fans, and they truly are interested in providing the best hip-hop experience for everyone who attends. However, this edition of the festival was not made the most successful through addition by subtraction. From Krizz Kaliko and POS each offering up their unique brand of high octane hip-hop to the Shock G Trio performing everything from Digital Underground cuts to Domino  with a smoothed out, funk sound to Asher Roth and Nottz (AKA Roth) providing what could be easily one of the best collaborations where a duo actually brings the best out of each other to Immortal Technique who offered his words of revolution, provided a call to action, and then walked directly down the middle of the crowd as fans clapped and patted him on the back, clearly the diverse collective of artists at this year’s Paid Dues was absolutely unparalleled.

While the Visionaries might not be part of the Freshman class to perform at Paid Dues, this was certainly a group that hasn’t performed together in a long time: “This is special. It has been a long time since all of us have performed on the same stage together, “admitted Key Kool. Performing such classics as “In The Good,” “If You Can’t Say Love”, “Bless the Mic”"Sight For Sore Eyes,” the Visionaries set featured their legendary energy, which has made them one of the best groups to ever grace a stage.  Right after their set, Dead Prez was performing on the Main Stage. Performing new material as well as “Hell Yeah” and “Hip-Hop,” one of hip-hop’s most important groups did not disappoint. Performing “Malcolm, Garvey, Huey,” over the beat of “Beamer, Benz, and Bentley,” Dead Prez simultaneously offered a critique on values while getting the audience to dumb out to the beat.

In addition to the lineup being nearly entirely comprised of first time artists or first time in a long time artists,  Paid Dues added a third stage.  In addition to the Paid Dues Stage (main stage outside) and the Dues Paid Stage (smaller stage outside), there was also the Grindtime Now Stage (indoor). What will hopefully become a staple of the Paid Dues experience, the Grindtime stage (which was creatively made to be a steel-stage octagon) held host to the art of battling in its various forms. In addition to featuring performances from veterans as Chino XL, DJ Exile Vs. Blu & Fashawn, and an incredible set that featured Muggs and many of the artists that he has completed VS projects with (Bambu, Sick Jacken, and Planet Asia, with a special appearance from Evidence) to bring to life a very rare musical experience. However, it was the battle for Grindtime champion that was the focal point, and clearly the main draw of this stage. Johnny Storm, Dizaster, Real Deal, and Dirtbag Dan comprised the competition involved in this battle, and it came down to Storm and Dan for the title. In a three round final battle that featured Dan taking jabs at Storm by systematically calling out each of the members of Marvel’s Fantastic Four and made references to MMA fighters, but it was Storm whose punch lines and overall complexity that won the judges over.

Part of the reason for this, and this was made evident by the final round (the only round to be accompanied by music), was the fact that nearly all of Storm’s rhymes were written whereas Dan’s verses were more freestyle. Diabolical, one of the judges, who stated that he thought that Storm got the upper hand, gave his vote with a bit of criticism: “I am from the old school, and if you are in the final round, you should freestyle.” While it was stated that the artists are allowed to use written verses or freestyle, it seemed that the fans, while they enjoyed Storms’ witty punch lines, would have respected him more if his verses had come off the cuff rather than had been written, rehearsed and perfected before he hit the octagon.

However sets that could easily be described as the highlights of the night were Murs and Blackstar. The mastermind behind the entire festival could have easily mailed it in, but if you know anything about Murs, this not part of his makeup. In fact, this might be the one day that he relishes more than any other to perform alongside so many of his friends.   Taking the Dues Paid Stage, Murs set was comprised of performing material off of Varsity Blues 2 (produced by Aesop Rock), bringing Shock G out on the Stage, and performing his classic L.A. with Crookers twist: “Thank you, hopefully that was a welcome break from all the hip-hop,” said Murs wryly. Murs closed out his set by performing such covers as “Walk Like an Egyptian” (which he dedicated to the people of Egypt), “It Takes Two,” and a very special, L.A. Cover: “Bulls on Parade.” “Much respect to Rage Against the Machine. Hopefully, we didn’t fuck it up too bad.” It was refreshing to see an artist like Murs be open to using the time he had on stage to perform material that he loves, even if it wasn’t his own material. However, the song that did perform that might have had the strongest emotional affect on everyone within a ear shot was “Ist Love” (off of the Varsity Blues 2 project).  A beautifully tragic song about the loss of love, Murs said prior to performing it that it might be difficult for him to get through it based on the fact that it was a true story: “If you really love someone, tell them because you never know how long they will be around.”  This theme of appreciation was something that was felt throughout the entire day. With this being the first Paid Dues for so many of the artists, nearly every set, at one point or another took time to pay respect to those that have been lost as well as earnestly stress how thankful they were for their opportunity to be at the festival.

As the night closed with the “Reunited” Blackstar, this theme of appreciation continued. While it may be a stretch to call their performance a reunion, it isn’t as though one of the most beloved duos in hip-hop performs together very often. From the moment they opened with “8th Light,” the fans showed their appreciation throughout the course of the hour long set. The duo paid their appreciation back to Nate Dogg by performing “Oh No,” and they showed their appreciation to fans by coming back to the stage for a brief encore that featured “Brown Skin Lady.”  Their set, which was comprised of material from their classic Blackstar release, classic solo material from both of their respective individual catalogues, as well as upcoming material from both their solo and, hopefully, their long waited sophomore release, was the pitch perfect way to close the best Paid Dues to date. So much has been said about the challenges that come with running a successful hip-hop festival , but it clearly seems that this is only something that Guerilla Union and Murs relish in, which has the fans thinking only one thing as they leave the 12 hour musical marathon:  “I can’t wait to see how they top themselves next year!”

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