A3C + Okayplayer Hosted The Best Block Party Ever [Full Photo + Video Recap]

photos courtesy of JAZZshoots

Last week Okayplayer packed our bags and headed south (we do that sometimes) to be co-host at the Best Block Party Ever with the good people at A3C. From October 8 - 12, Atlanta was once again home to one of the biggest hip-hop festivals running as the ever-expanding A3C Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary. From panels during the day (held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Downtown ATL) to events off-site, the talent, energy, and enthusiasm for music never wavered over the course of the five-day event.

Part music conference and part concert series, A3C provided an opportunity for attendees ranging from artists to publicists to journalists to gather and meet minds, exchange ideas, and enjoy good music. Highlights for 2014 included a BET Music Matters panel from OKP fave Mannie Fresh with his fellow NOLA rap pioneers Juvenile and Mystikal; Jamla’s showcase featuring 9th Wonder & Rapsody; the Duck Down barbecue headlined by Jay Electronica; and seeing emerging talent like G.L.A.M. (managed by Sway Calloway) at a small club in Atlanta and Sa-Roc at the aforementioned Best Block Party Ever.

Okayplayer also represented with a writers’ panel moderated by yours truly on Day 4, and closed out the weekend with our 2nd annual Best Block Party Ever. Thank you to BX legend Kid Capri for stopping by, event host Dres tha Beatnik, and all the performers who came out to rock our stage: Prince Paul, Skyzoo & Torae, Erk Tha Jerk, Baked Life, Riders Against The Storm, and the Bodega Brovas.

The biggest weekend highlights undoubtedly came courtesy of Black Thought and J. Period, who graced us with a set that included old and new favorites alike (they never disappoint). Talib Kweli, meanwhile, gave us one of the most nail-biting moments: arriving at our Atlanta location fresh off a plane and minutes before he was due on stage. Our block party was Show #3 in a 24-hour span for him, after he’d played a Ferguson event earlier that afternoon in Missouri, and Brooklyn the night before.

Get our video recap below with OKP fam Skillz handling hosting duties and see photos of some of our favorite festival highlights in the gallery above courtesy of JAZZshoots.