RAP SUPERSTARS Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifaâs joint High Road tour is already unmissable, but this is practically a music festival with its long list of kickass openers, including Casey Veggies, Kevin Gates, and the lovely JhenĂ© Aiko.
JhenĂ© Aiko Efuru Chilombo is the only woman on the bill, and the tour stopâs most compelling draw for me personally. Her set at Bumbershoot last year was the perfect kickoff to my super stoned weekendâI could burn pre-rolls to her insanely relatable lyrics for hours. Aiko gave off angelic flower child vibes as she played songs like âBed Peaceâ and âLyin King.â The 28-year-oldâs vocals often come off as innocentâeven cherubicâuntil she hits you with lyrics like âHe gotta eat the booty like groceries.â
Since garnering a Grammy nomination for her 2013 EP Sail Out and releasing her 2014 follow-up, Souled Out, in April Aiko dropped a joint EP, Twenty88, with her boo Big Sean. Surprisingly, the project isnât gag-inducingâitâs actually quite steamy, and a thorough reflection of the ups and downs of a relationship. Especially lovable tracks include the super seductive âPush Itâ and â2 Minute Warning,â which features K-Ci & JoJo and Detail. Recently, Aiko released the track âNew Balanceâ on SoundCloud, which tells another story of finding love in a sea of hopelessness: âThen thereâs you/You bring silence to my violent truth/Yes you do/Youâre my salvage, youâre my balance/Youâre so new.â
After the High Road tour stops at the Sunlight Supply Amphitheater, StarChile is bringing the official afterparty to Portland: the First Annual Harvestfest presented by Rose City Wellness. Snoop Dogg will help host the party at Tao Event Center, and Wiz Khalifa will DJ the festivities. There will also be performances from Portland hip-hop artists like 2Reps, whose music video for âI Just Wanna Smokeâ features a cameo from Snoop, as well as guest DJ slots from O.G. One and Jerry Bandito. Even if you canât make it to the show out in Ridgefield, $50 seems worth it to get lit with the Snoop and Khalifa crew. First Annual Harvestfest, Thurs Sept 1, Tao Event Center (631 NE Grand)