With a few weekends left until one of the most awaited festivals this summer, many powerfull names are added to the Positivus festival line-up. The Hip Hop camp is strengthened by Ski Mask the Slump God and Fiņķis. Especially notable this year is the presence of several Ukrainian artists at the festival, including the masters of experimental nostalgia Kautkaili and many other younger domestic music names, all gathering alongside the previously announced Jason Derulo, Offset, Nothing But Thieves, Benjamin Clementine, Jacob Collier, and several dozens of other foreign and domestic names.

American rapper Ski Mask The Slump God grew up with Jamaican music in his childhood, as his parents hailed from there. Interestingly, it was his father, who performed as a rapper under the stage name “Sin City,” who inspired Ski Mask to pursue rap music. Prior to releasing his debut album, the artist successfully collaborated with “XXXTentacion” (1998–2018) and “Juice WRLD.” Ski Mask The Slump God’s first solo studio album, “Stokeley” (2018), peaked at number 6 on the Billboard charts. We’ll definitely hear songs from this highly acclaimed album at this summer’s Positivus festival, where we might also experience some unheard surprises, as the rapper’s second studio album, “11th Dimension,” promised last year, is still on its way to the listeners.

One of the currently most internationally successful Ukrainian rock bands, Love’n’Joy, was formed in 2009 in Kyiv. Over the first ten years, experimenting and searching for their style led to changes in the lineup, with only the songwriter Anton Puškars remaining unchanged. Their indie rock, reminiscent of the hippie era, adorned with variously flowered psychedelia and also marked by post-punk elements, has proven its competitiveness even in the West (their songs are in EN), constantly touring and playing concerts almost every day, also collecting donations to support their homeland in the war against Russia.

Ukrainian rapper OTOY expresses his nation’s resilience against Russian invaders in his music, along with the associated experiences and their impact on emotional well-being. Born in Lviv in 1998, the musician lost his older brother in the war with the invaders, and as a volunteer on the front lines, he helped search for and identify the fallen. Unlike many other rappers, OTOY promotes respectful attitudes towards women and the preservation of local cultural traditions in his lyrics, also encouraging young people to be responsible.

Among the domestic artists at the festival, we’ll hear the hip-hop musician and lyricist Fiņķis, the masters of experimental nostalgia Kautkaili, the alternative pop-rock group Bukte, the electronic music duo ELPO, the rock band Purple Negative, the rappers sivmoneyyy and I MEAN LOVE, and netirais300.

 

It’s worth noting that this year’s Positivus festival will feature American singer, dancer, and actor Jason Derulo, Offset from the Atlanta group “Migos,” British rock band “Nothing But Thieves,” hip-hop artist NEMZZZ, Latvian rap classic Ozols, one of this summer’s hottest rap projects Wiesulis and sangvn, as well as the group “Detlef.” Also performing at Lucavsala this year will be British singer and 2005 Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine, multiple Grammy Award winner, jazz pianist, and vocalist Jacob Collier (Jacob Collier – The Djesse Solo Show), former Arcade Fire member Will Butler’s project “Will Butler & Sisters Squares,” Manchester group “Picture Parlour,” and one of this year’s festival hidden gems, the group “Royel Otis.” The festival will also feature singer Angelica Garcia, Jordan Ward, Daddy Was a Milkman, Sattelites LV, this year’s “Supernovas” surprise – the duo “Vēstulēs,” as well as last year’s Eurovision sensation “Citi Zēni” and many others.