It’s billed as the “premiere hip-hop music festival in the Midwest.” And with good reason. Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash Festival has returned, this time in a three-day iteration in Douglass Park, featuring an eclectic lineup of musicmakers and emcees.
Here’s a look at some of the sights and sounds of the 2021 festival.
Swae Lee performs on day one of the Summer Smash Festival in Douglass Park, Friday night, Aug. 20, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Swae Lee performs on day one of the Summer Smash Festival in Douglass Park, Friday night, Aug. 20, 2021. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Swae Lee performs on day one of the Summer Smash Festival in Douglass Park, Friday night, Aug. 20, 2021. Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Latto performs on Day 1 of the Summer Smash Festival in Douglass Park, Friday evening, Aug. 20, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Festival-goers flock to Douglass Park on Friday afternoon for Day 1 of the Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Festival on the Southwest Side.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago native Baha Bank$ poses for a portrait backstage after performing on Day 1 of the Summer Smash Festival in Douglass Park.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Festival goers await entry on Day 1 of the Summer Smash Festival in Douglass Park on Aug. 20, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago-native Supa Bwe performs on day one of the Summer Smash Festival in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago-native Supa Bwe jumps into the crowd as he performs on day one of the Summer Smash Festival in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Festival-goers dance as Chicago-native Supa Bwe performs on day one of the Summer Smash Festival in Douglass Park, Friday afternoon, Aug. 20, 2021.Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times