Steve Thrasher
Audio By Carbonatix
Tacos and Tequila Festival returns to the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Saturday, May 17. If you love tacos and tequila while listening to nostalgic hits, you need to be at Panther Island Pavilion this weekend.
The festival will have DFW’s top street vendors, handcrafted margaritas, tequila shot bars, Lucha Libra wrestling, a chihuahua beauty pageant, a salsa and queso competition and art installations. The organizers are preparing for the hotter temperatures with misting tents, chilling stations, BOGO deals on water and a dedicated air-conditioned tent by the Pink Bows Foundation, a nonprofit created in memory of Madison Dubiski to promote crowd safety at large-scale events.
The lineup is straight out of your ’90s and 2000s playlist, a transformative era for hip-hop. It features DJ Ashton Martin, Mims, Petey Pablo, Frankie J, Mike Jones, Trick Daddy, Trina, Soulja Boy, Pretty Ricky, Timbaland and Lil Jon. The set times are below.
If you’re looking for a hip-hop alternative to Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival in Richardson and the Red Headed Stranger 50th anniversary tribute concert in Garland, you’ll want to make the trip. Here are some songs we want to hear at Tacos and Tequila that aren’t the obvious hits. Get your jerseys and snapbacks ready.
Petey Pablo – “Vibrate” feat. Rasheeda (2004)
Does anyone remember purchasing a PSP that came with a UMD sampler disc with music videos? Coheed and Cambria’s “Blood Red Summer,” Crossfade’s “Cold” and Kasabian’s “Club Foot” were among the videos you could watch. But Petey Pablo’s “Vibrate” was the video to blast from your PSP while at lunch, recess, or walking the halls at your school. Petey’s going to do the classics like “Freak-A-Leek” and “Raise Up” at Tacos and Tequila. It’ll surprise everyone if he does this. Millennials would lose their minds.
Mims – “Like This” (2007)
Mims is set for life because “This Is Why I’m Hot” is his only major hit that is still hot. The New York rapper had another one off his debut, Music Is My Savior, that wasn’t as hot and fly, but it’s still hot if you heard it this weekend. “Like This” is the lesser-known Mims song that still references “This Is Why I’m Hot” and how it’s a top ringtone. A sneaky club anthem that deserves more love.
Frankie J – “That Girl” feat. Mannie Fresh and Chamillionaire (2006)
Frankie J is known for “Don’t Wanna Try” and “Obsession (No Es Amor),” which are definite crowd pleasers. However, Mannie Fresh is touring again with Cash Money Millionaires for their 30th-anniversary tour, and Chamillionaire is known to pop up at festivals as a surprise guest. Frankie J could be the one to bring them together for “That Girl.” Chamillionaire performed with Paul Wall at Billy Bob’s Texas last year, so he has to come back.
Mike Jones – “Drop & Gimme 50” feat. Hurricane Chris (2007)
Mike Jones was up and down the 106 & Park countdown back then. “Drop & Gimme 50” was another hit of his off his sophomore album, teaming up with Hurricane Chris for a Texas-Lousiana ratchet anthem. If he does this, a twerk contest has to happen.
Trick Daddy – “In Da Wind” (2002)
Every day is a thug holiday. It would be epic if Trick Daddy did “In Da Wind,” and we got Big Boi and Cee-Lo to do their verses, too. It would be a Tacos and Tequila moment to remember.
Trina – “Da Baddest Bitch” (1999)
Trina represents the unfiltered raunch of early Miami bass. While Slip N’ Slide Records helped launch her career, she stands on her own as an inspiration to City Girls, Nicki Minaj and many more as the baddest chick. “Da Baddest Bitch,” which samples Michael Jackson’s “Bad,” would absolutely have diehard Trina fans rapping every word.
Soulja Boy – “Turn My Swag On” (2008)
Soulja Boy’s longevity needs to be studied. Even when he claims to be the first rapper to do many things, songs like “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” show that he’s timeless and ahead of the curve. It is very likely that he will perform “Turn My Swag On” because it is one of those songs that makes you feel good.
Pretty Ricky – “On the Hotline” (2006)
Pretty Ricky’s “Grind With Me” is made for a close-quarters club, while “On the Hotline” is made for outdoor festivals like Tacos and Tequila, where you sweat more from all the dancing. Get ready to scream “five in the morning!” from Fort Worth.
Timbaland & Magoo – “Drop” feat. Fatman Scoop (2001)
Fatman Scoop, who passed away on Aug. 30, 2024, at age 53, was a legendary hype man and radio personality who was the undisputed voice of the club. Magoo, a longtime collaborator with Timbaland and Aaliyah, passed on Aug. 13, 2023, at age 50. Timbaland has plenty of songs with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake to pull from his catalog, but “Drop” is a sentimental track that pays homage to two hip-hop luminaries. Plus, who doesn’t want to battle You Got Served style?
Lil Jon & The East Side Boys – “Bia Bia” feat. Ludacris and Too Short (2001)
We’re wishing Busta Rhymes a speedy recovery, who had to step back as a headliner due to a personal health matter. Lil Jon has stepped in as Timbaland’s co-headliner, who will surely keep the crowd energy up as the night ends. Outside of “Get Low,” “Snap Ya Fingers” and “What U Gon’ Do,” the King of Crunk has to throw in “Bia Bia.” Bonus points if Bia does her version with Lil Jon in Fort Worth.
Tickets to the Tacos and Tequila Festival are available here. General admission starts at $90, a buy three, get one free option starts at $269 and VIP admission starts at $210. Sorry, kids, 21 and up only.
