The annual Governors Ball in New York City is around the corner once again, a festival that turns Randall’s Island into a floating jukebox full of musical variety. Both hip-hop and R&B have seen their fair share of re-defining in 2013 and the Governors Ball is taking notice, bumping the number of hip-hop/R&B acts from the seven at last year’s festival to 11 artists/groups this year. Let’s take a look at who’s going to be blowing speakers and minds at the Governors Ball 2014 and how they compare to last year’s list.

 

Kanye West (2013)/Outkast (2014)

Both hip-hop heavyweights from Chicago and Atlanta respectively serve as headliners their respective years. West performed the festival last year on the heels of the release of his sixth studio album ‘Yeezus,’ while the supergroup consisting of MCs André “3000″ Benjamin and Antwon “Big Boi” Patton are embarking on a festival tour in honor of the 20th anniversary of their debut record “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.”

 

Erykah Badu/Janelle Monae 

The Queen of Neo-Soul brought her Afrocentric flair and R&B/hip-hop/soul sound to the festival last year, and Monae is looking to bring a similar energy and musical variety to this year’s ball. Considering that they both collaborated on a single for Monae’s album ‘The Electric Lady’ last year, is this a coincidence of just crazy good timing on their part?

 

Nas/Ratking

Both considered by many to be walking embodiments of hard-hitting grim and gritty New York hip-hop, the Brooklyn-born Nas brought that flavor to GB last year. Ratking, a three-piece Harlem group consisting of wily MCs Wiki and Hak, backed by sample-based production by producer Sporting Life, will bring their New York hip-hop with a post-punk edge to the stage this year and do hip-hop’s birth spot proud.    

 

Kendrick Lamar/J.Cole

Two MCs who have come far after being discovered by established giants of the genre (Lamar was found by Dr. Dre, while Cole was discovered by Jay-Z), Lamar graced the GB stage last year with his West Coast sound. Cole, hailing from North Carolina, will be bringing his Southern drawl to the stage this year. They’re also close friends who may or may not have a collaborative album in the pipeline.

 

Azealia Banks/Childish Gambino

On a smaller but no less publicized scale, both of these MCs have been making waves over the past couple of years. Banks, a female MC from Harlem, performed tracks from her forever delayed album ‘Broke with Expensive Taste’ at last year’s Ball, while Gambino, real name Donald Glover, fresh off of a tour of his latest album ‘Because The Internet,’ will bring his skills to the Ball this year.

Miguel/The Internet

Swooning vocals are no stranger to the Governors Ball lineup, either. Miguel’s crooning could be heard at the Ball last year, while The Internet, comprised of Odd Future members Syd The Kid and Matt Martians, will bring yet another hint of neo-soul/funk to the stage this year.

Freddie Gibbs/Tyler, The Creator 

Gibbs and Tyler Okonma are both MCs on the cutting edge with gruff voices and distinct personalities. Gibbs’ love for Golden Age gangsta rap took the Ball by storm last year, while the Odd Future frontman’s distinct vocals and eclectic production are sure to make a splash this year.

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