Boom 94.5 FM is Bringing a Classic Hip-Hop Festival to Dallas This May

Did someone say something about striking while the iron is hot? Back in November, the term "classic hip hop" was all the rage here in Dallas when two local radio stations abruptly (and simultaneously) switched to old-school rap formats. Gradually the buzz trickled away, and one of the stations, HOT...

By Jeff Gage

March 4, 2015

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Did someone say something about striking while the iron is hot? Back in November, the term "classic hip hop" was all the rage here in Dallas when two local radio stations abruptly (and simultaneously) switched to old-school rap formats. Gradually the buzz trickled away, and one of the stations, HOT 93.3 FM, gave up the idea entirely after only a few weeks. The other, Boom 94.5 FM, has stayed the course, and now they're even upping the ante with Dallas' first-ever classic hip hop music festival, to be staged in Fair Park on Saturday, May 2.

The classic hip hop radio format isn't exclusive to Dallas, of course. In recent years it's been a growing trend, having started in New York, and in fact Boom 94.5's sister station in Houston, KROI 92.1 FM, had adopted the same idea beforehand as well. So perhaps it's no surprise then that Dallas' hip hop festival would have a Houston flair to it, courtesy of none other than Bun B of UGK fame.

It's not exactly a huge lineup (10 artists -- although that's only two shy of Homegrown Festival, which is one of the city's most popular music fests), but there's more than enough bump 'n' grind nostalgia to make up for that. Joining Bun B are two of the late '90s biggest hit makers, Mystikal and Juvenile, plus Scarface of the Geto Boys.

Of course, Boom 94.5 is billing this fest as "Classic Hip Hop Meets Zydeco & the Blues," which is actually very self-explanatory in this case. Joining the hip hop and R&B acts will zydeco artists Step Rideau and Brian Jack, plus blues singers Sir Charles Jones and Mel Waiter.

Tickets went on sale yesterday at boom945.com for a special online-only price of $18, which lasts through this Friday, March 6. General presale passes will be on sale starting on Saturday for $25 apiece, with at-the-door tickets costing $30.

Gates will open for the festival at 1 p.m., with music starting at 2:30 and lasting until 11:30.

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