By Damien Brooks
One thing about 2016, besides the chokehold it has on today’s 20-somethings, is that it was an excellent year for music. In 2016 we got Rihanna’s Anti, The Coloring Book, Life of Pablo, Untitled by Kendrick, and of course, the debut album from TWENTY88.
If you haven’t heard of TWENTY88, where have you been!? Jhene Aiko and her longtime boyfriend, rapper Big Sean, formed a rap duo under the stage name Twenty88. Giving fans another reason to love them as a couple and artists, peaking at #5 on the Billboard 200. Since the release they haven’t put out much, simply teasing us with features on one another’s album. In an Instagram live with Queen Naija, Big Sean mentioned that he and Jhene have been working on their latest album for a while.
So, what does all that mean? If you have not already heard, TWENTY88 will be headlining this year’s MoPop Music Festival in Detroit, MI. It’s really Glass Animals and Big Sean; however, Jhene is one of the prominent acts performing this year. Thus, giving many fans, including myself, a reason to speculate that TWENTY88 will be finished with their album sooner than later. Will they release in enough time to learn the songs, or will they pull a Bey and Jay by releasing some new music at the festival, one can wonder.
Now, what is Mo Pop?. Mo Pop is the premier music festival in the city of Detroit. Standing alongside other local events, such as The Detroit Jazz Fest, Movement, and formally the Hoe Down, a country music festival that left for the suburbs in 2016. While having national comparisons to festivals such as Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, with so many festivals going on in one summer, it’s easy to pass over a small one in the Midwest.
Having their inaugural festival in 2013 in Sterling Heights, MI, is a place for Michiganders to experience live music from emerging and even some established artists. After year two, the festival was moved to Detroit’s West Riverfront Park in 2015, allowing space for growth in size and exposure. Allowing way for artists with a broader reach, artists such as Tyler the Creator, Foster the People, Billie Eilish, G-Eazy, and even Glass Animals, who’ll be headlining this year’s festival.
Mo Pop has become a tradition in Detroit, giving people a place to experience Coachella in their backyard. While also being a place for people to buy local goods, from food to handmade trinkets and clothing. This will be the first year the festival is being held in Hart Plaza and the first festival since the pandemic began back in 2019. So not only is this a big year for Jason Rogalewski and the Mo Pop Festival, but it is happening during such a pivotal point in Detroit city history. Which makes this the perfect opportunity for TWENTY88 to share some new music with the people.
Whether they release an album, or just a single, having Big Sean headline a music festival in the Heart of Detroit is monumental all on its own. Especially when it’s being done alongside artists such as Kaytranda, Jhene Aiko, and Khruangbin.
About Post Author
