Hip Hop Fest Meltdown

Two multi-city Australian hip hop festivals scheduled for April went into meltdown after their dates clashed in three cities and split the crowd.

Live Nation and Niche Productions canceled the inaugural Movement, which was to kick off a four-city run April 26. It was to be headlined and curated by Nas, with Chiddy Bang, Angel Haze, 2 Chainz, and Australia’s Bliss N Eso and Iggy Azalea. But in the final week, Angel Haze pulled out citing recording commitments, and 2 Chainz faced visa issues because of legal problems in the United States. It also faced consumer backlash after downsizing in some cities.

A statement from the festival said Movement was set up “to overcome the disappointment that has occurred in the past due to event cancellations and talent withdrawals from similar events in recent years.” As the producers were “unable to fulfill their commitment,” they pulled the plug.

In the same week, Supafest 4 was postponed to November. It was to play four cities April 25-28 with 50 Cent, Akon, Ti, Ne-Yo, and J. Cole. Promoter Dwayne Cross of Chase Records cited difficulty completing venue arrangements for the Melbourne and Brisbane shows.

He is optimistic that all artists on the bill will be available for the to-be-announced new dates. Supafest faced lawsuits and claims from creditors after the 2012 event.