Headlining Friday night in a UK exclusive is hip-hop superstar A$AP Rocky with a debut UK headline performance.
Rocky has continuously broken the mold of hip-hop with mind-melting beats and raps, experimental sounds, and an unparalleled musical landscape rarely seen in music today. The New York rapper has accumulated over 4.5 billion streams worldwide. With two US number one albums and a huge catalogue of hits, including 2018 release ‘TESTING’, Rocky is sure to create a historic moment at Wireless 2020.
Headlining on Saturday is London native and global grime icon Skepta. Since coming onto the scene in 2005, Skepta has been instrumental in grime’s shift from the underground to the charts and is arguably the genre’s greatest pioneer. In 2019 he released his second top 10 album: the brilliantly uncompromising ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’ through his own Boy Better Know label. This was the follow up to his era and genre-defining, ‘Konnichiwa’, which won the coveted Mercury Music Prize and saw Skepta picking up awards around the world, including multiple BRIT Awards nominations. In 2019 he treated Wireless to an amazing special guest appearance and is back in 2020 to headline in his hometown.
Closing the festival on Sunday is rap legend, Meek Mill. Recognised as one of the most important voices in modern hip-hop, the Philadelphia star is without a doubt one of the most electrifying hip-hop talents in recent memory and in 2020 will be making his debut appearance on UK soil by headlining the iconic Wireless main stage.
Forever championing the burgeoning homegrown scene, Wireless 2020 will yet again play host to some of the hottest talent from across the UK. Flying the flag for London are D-Block Europe, AJ Tracey, Tion Wayne, M Huncho, Hardy Caprio and MoStack. Following their meteoric rise to fame and with two sold out show’s at Alexandra Palace under their belts, D-Block Europe will take to the main stage ahead of A$AP Rocky on Friday. The South-London duo made up of Dirtbike LB and Young Adz have been catapulted into the mainstream with the release of various UK top 10 mixtapes including ‘Home Alone’, ‘PTSD’ and most recently ‘Street Trauma’. Ladbroke Grove’s AJ Tracey had a career defining year in 2019. Following the release of his anticipated self-titled debut album AJ reached number 3 on the UK albums charts, sold out two show’s at Alexandra Palace, and has been nominated for a BRIT Award. Playing ahead of the iconic Meek Mill, AJ Tracey will prove why he has become one of the best in the game. Independent Manchester rapper Aitch also returns as well as Birmingham’s MIST, while elsewhere, Tiffany Calver will be joined by friends, Kilo Jugg, Shaybo, GeeYou and Alz x 38.
Saturday night just got even bigger, with Atlanta’s Quality Control Music taking over the main stage for the first time ever in Europe. Having been at the forefront of hip-hop since 2013 and responsible for some of hip-hops biggest names, Quality Control has been integral to the genre’s continued global dominance and they will be bringing some very special guests including iconic hip-hop trio Migos, the prolific Lil Baby, Grammy-nominated Lil Yachty, Miami based City Girls and more.
Self-proclaimed rockstar Lil Uzi Vert has truly shaken up modern hip-hop and is one of the few artists on earth who has had over 1 billion streams for a single song. Consistent innovator Young Thug will be bringing his latest album ‘So Much Fun’ to the festival. Heralded as one of popular music’s most charismatic and crowd-pleasing live performers, the innovative rapper is sure to create an unforgettable Wireless moment. American rapper DaBaby has become one of the best and biggest artists in hip-hop in 2019. Having released two hit albums, including US Billboard 200 number one ‘Kirk’, DaBaby’s fearless performance is one to watch at Wireless. Also joining the bill is Bronx rapper Lil Tjay and Afro-beat giant Burna Boy following a huge 2019 which saw him sell out Wembley Arena, score 3 UK top 10 singles and a Grammy nomination for 2019 release 'African Giant', cementing himself as king of afro-fusion and then genres first global star.
Compton born Roddy Ricch has become 2020’s newest star having just gained his first U.S number 1 single with ‘The Box’, obliterating the barriers between rap and mainstream. Joining him is the Grammy-nominated Lil Baby who has over 10 billion streams on Spotify and is set to release his anticipated sophomore album ‘My Turn’ in 2020, as well as Atlanta rapper Playboi Carti who continues to defy rap conventions and has become one of the hottest names in hip-hop, receiving huge critical acclaim for every project he releases.
LA's viral star Doja Cat has received huge critical acclaim since she came onto the scene in 2013 at just 16 years old. Since then she has released her hugely successful 2019 album 'Hot Pink' and has become a vibrant and dynamic figure in music today. Joining her is one of the most exciting new talents to date, Koffee, who just became the first and youngest woman to win a Grammy for Best Reggae Album, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie who hit the scene in 2016 with his funk driven version of trap.
Despite being just 20 years old Trippie Redd already has a list of accolades including featuring in Billboard’s Top 200 Songs and Billboards 200 Album Chart, as well as a Hot 100 entry. He’ll be heading to Wireless this summer along with Rocky’s fellow A$AP Mob member A$AP Ferg, rap duo City Girls and rapper and producer NAV following the release of his 2019 sophomore album ‘Bad Habits’ that reached no.1 on the US Billboard 200.
Other acts taking to the stage across the weekend include Rico Nasty, NLE Choppa, Steel Banglez, Nafe Smallz, Jay1, Young T & Bugsey, Polo G, Pop Smoke, DigDat, Kida Kudz, Darkoo and Lil Tecca, with many more still to be announced.
Capital and Capital XTRA return as official media partners for the fifth year, bringing along presenters Yinka, Manny Norte and DJ Semtex to host the stages over the festival weekend.
Also returning to host the VIP Village are female-led radio station Foundation FM and their fleet of DJ’s, showcasing the hottest emerging talent in the underground music scene.
Published on 15 February 2020 by Ben Robinson
