For another year, America’s largest independent hip-hop festival, Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash, returned to Chicago. Well-known for emphasizing the hip-hop community in an overwhelmingly beautiful light; the festival also hosts a range of hometown Chicago stars. Providing festival goers the chance to hear the best music & taste the very best foods of Chicago. With headliners Cactus Jack making their first ever festival appearance, Playboi Carti announcing new music will be releasing soon, and most importantly Chicago native Chief Keef making his first performance at home in over a decade; Summer Smash was on course for another monumental festival.
Summer Smash is also exceptionally well known for bringing food and fun for festivalgoers especially from the local area with staples such as Manny’s Deli, 3 Little Pigs, and of course their very own Summer Smash Restaurant. To accommodate those who have a knack for carnival games there were plenty of chances to win a plushy or two of course.
Initially showing zero signs of inclement weather; Chicago & mother nature had interesting plans, causing a brief break in the activities for around an hour. Luckily, the team snapped into decisive action and was able to swiftly postpone and recover the event amid crowds rioting through the rain and wind. For the second year in a row, that couldn’t stop the festival from continuing and still providing festival goers who they all wanted to see, Chief Keef.
Overall, Summer Smash, for an added year was remarkable. From the food options offered, to the games, ferris wheel, and of course the artist; this year’s festival was undoubtedly historic.
words and photgraphy by Darius ‘DJ’ Jennings
