Tucson hip-hop fans have voted for their faves — from best local artist to best hip-hop recording — and all that’s left is the big reveal.
And the party, with the megawatt star-studded concert at the fourth annual Tucson Hip Hop Awards show on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Rialto Theatre.
Some of the biggest names in Tucson’s hip-hop scene are on the lineup, including Cash Lansky, Rute 100, King Tuc, Big Ox, City Boyz West, Stacc Styles and the highly-anticipated reunion of DFL — Dogs For Life.
Former Tucsonan Stacc Styles is on the lineup for the fourth annual Tucson Hip Hop Awards at Rialto Theatre.
“They’re a group that used to be heavy in Tucson, and they’re gonna be reuniting at the show to perform,” said Tucson hip-hop DJ and promoter Jahmar Francis. “They haven’t performed in Tucson for probably like 15 years.”
Francis launched the awards in 2021 to shine a spotlight on Tucson rappers and DJs who were often overlooked in statewide hip-hop awards programs. What started out as a small grassroots effort with an awards show and a handful of performers at The Rock near the University of Arizona has grown this year into a concert featuring 18 Tucson artists, some of whom have been leading the scene for years.
Tucson rapper King Tuc is on the lineup for Saturday’s Tucson Hip Hop Awards at Rialto Theatre.
This year, awards will be presented in 15 categories, from best male and female artist, album and video to best dance crew, label and DJ. Finalists were selected from the more than 1,000 nominations fans submitted in February. Francis said 2,000 people cast votes to determine the winners.
Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s awards show.
Jahmar Francis founded the Tucson Hip Hop Awards to honor Tucson artists that were often overlooked by Phoenix.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.
Tickets: $15 to $20 through rialto theatre.com
The lineup: Cash Lansky, Az-iL, AZ the World Burns, DJ Looney, Mia Banczz, Runt, Street Mob Military, Breadman P, Staac Styles, King Tuc, Beat Drop Kidz, Syncness, Kidd Zeeno, Rute 100, DFL, Tyreezyy, City Boyz West, Hidden Hand and Brother Jossef
The nominees:
Male Artist: The Shagster, Trnth, Jay Tyrese, Sensai Sai, Stacc Styles, Banger, Eli One, Playah All Day, KP Kai, Rilla Mac
Female Artist: Sycness, Ill V, Arlynn Adriana, Llubia D, Ahria Monique, Sunny South, Spit the Rat, Julissa Lopez
RNB Artist: Brother Josef, Cassio, D’Anita, Freddy Jay, KP Kai, Jay Tyrese, Lynze Rhem
DJ: DJ Looney, DJ Shrek, DJ Staxx, DJ Luna, Truly Knows Music, DJ Dre Day, DJ Impecabble
Producer: Trnth, Woodywiz AKA Fireboy, Cassio, Ty Engle, Dimob Diamante, SL Southlake, Jay Bailey
Hip Hop Song: The Shagster “Burn Out”; Trnth and Brother Jossef “Please Don’t Go Away”; Street Mob Military “Wavy”; Richard Lee X Breadman P “Go Hard”; Motor City King “Nascar”; Cruz Ocho, Cash Lansky, YML, Nene and Just Wise, “Inhale”; Sunny South featuring Ale Staccs “The Same”; Kairee Doty “Gahdamn”; King Tuc “Ariza”
Music Video: The Shagster “Burn Out”; Cruz Ocho “Stream & Views (Van Gough)”; Rute 100 “Franklin”; Trnth “TV OFF” remix; Banger “Desert flows”; Dan Obey “Bahaaaaa”; Kp Kai “Lucids Daydream”; King Tuc “ARIZA”
Album: Trnth “Mind My Business”; Jay Tyrese “2:22”; AZ the World Burns; Dweller the Storyteller “Mind Over Matter”; Az-iL “Abstract 3”; Kp Kai “Lover Boy Chronicles”
Label: Street Mob Military Records, Dop Shop Records, City Boyz West, 100K Music Group, Mythic Underground, Young Mob Music
Recording Studio: OCF, GMP Content LLC, Engle Studios, Sol Studios, Dimob, Woody Wiz, YMP Recordings, Zona Zero
Dance Crew: Beat Drop Kidz, The Drop 520, Viva Dance Studio
Lyricist: The Shagster, Trnth, Dan Obey, Motor City King, Cruz Ocho, Ymi Nene, Richard Lee, Tommy Will, Spit the Rat, S Beezy, Soulsmanifesto
Podcast: Bar Talk TV, Hitz Off Da Streets, Beef Vegan Presens, The Kickback Podcast, Epic TV Podcast
Video and Photo Creator: Jay Bailey, Dre Day Flicks, Tommy Will, Arlin Adriana, 100k Films, Yung Mac Films, Shots by Dev
Hip Hop Venue: Brick Box Brewery, Urbxn, Mr. Heads, The Rock
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