Norway’s Hove Festival announces hip hop lineup

Headlining the Hip-Hop line-up is legendary New York rapper Jadakiss. As a solo-artist and member of The LOX, Jadakiss is one of the New York veterans of the 90s hip-hop scene and has managed to maintain his popularity and credibility to this day. His last album, “The Last Kiss”, was released in April through Jay-Z’s label, Roc-A-Fella and topped the hip-hop/R&B/Rap Billboards. Hove is his first ever gig in Scandinavia. Jadakiss plays the Amphitheatre stage on Monday June 22.

Fat Joe (US)

The pre-eminent rapper, Fat Joe, belongs to the generation of Nas and Jay-Z, and is perhaps the only Bronx-rapper still getting airplay for his music videos on TV. With the release of his latest album “The Elephant in the Room”, it is clear he is also one of the few commercially successful rappers today who still has both feet firmly planted in hip-hop culture. Fat Joe plays the Amphitheatre stage on Monday June 22.

Q-Tip (US)

Both as a part of the legendary rap-trio “A Tribe Called Quest” and as a successful solo artist, Q- Tip embodies quality and integrity, along with commercial success in hip-hop. He was one of the first rappers to cross musical boarders when he recorded the mega-hit “Groove Is in The Heart” with Dee-Lite back in the eighties and has continued to create distinctive music with the release of his latest album in 2008 “The Renaissance”. Q- Tip plays the Amphitheatre Stage on Wednesday June 24. 

Necro (US)

Brooklyn rapper, Necro, has developed his own unique hip-hop genre, Death Rap. Ron Braun Stein (Necro) is known in hip-hop circles for his extreme lyrics and controversial concerts. Necro’s uncompromising style has brought him fans from far beyond the traditional hip-hop community, including Hove friends Igor Cavalera and members of Slipknot, Hate Breed, and Obituary. Necro plays the Marquee stage on Tuesday Jun  23.

U-N-I (US)

U-N-I was named “Best Breakout LA Artist” on the last MTV Music Award and is a duo you are sure to hear more of in the future. Brought up in gangster-land, Inglewood, LA, you might think that they’d stick to the classic gangster-rap style, but what you find is quite on the contrary. U-N-I play indie hip-hop, melodic and groovy hip-hop mixed with electro and a touch of Nintendo 64! U-N-I play on the Amphitheatre, Monday June 22.