![Common, Ice Cube, R. Kelly, The Roots, J. Cole and More Rock AAHH! Fest 2016 [Photos]](https://i0.wp.com/www.gripmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/common-ff.png?fit=871%2C540)
AAHH! FEST by Common, one of the largest music festivals, made its 2nd return to Chicago after a year hiatus September 24th with a Community Festival which featured performances from local-area talent, as well as burgeoning artists Tink and Taylor Bennett and the main show on September 25th. Created by hip-hop artist, Academy Award-winning actor, and philanthropist Common, who was born and raised in Chicago, the mission and purpose of the festival was to raise awareness and bring a sense of relief and peace of the continued violence facing Chicago youth.
The Main Stage Event, hosted by Comedian Deon Cole (ABC’s “Blackish”) featured an all-star line-up—including hometown favorite Vic Mensah, The Internet, Sir the Baptist. Jeremih, who is also originally from Chicago performed as well. Featuring his hits including “Down on Me” “Birthday Sex” “Rhythm is a Dancer”.
The show then included a DJ Battle, featuring some of the hottest local battle DJ’s along with a tribute to DJ Timbuck2 who passed away in 2015.
The Roots then performed some of their hits such as “The Next Movement” “Guns are Drawn” “You Got Me” as well as their other hits.
After the Roots performance rapper Common took the stage, opening up with “The Corner.” He then performed a tribute to the Black Lives Matter Movement with an original song dedicated to Black America “Black America Again” in which he rapped about re-writing the Black-American story. Common then performed more of his hits such as “I Used to Love H.E.R.”, “The Light”, “Get ‘Em High” (from Kanye West “The College Dropout”), “The 6th Sense” featuring Bilal, “Love of My Life” and more.
Rapper Ice Cube then gave a surprise cameo performance and joined Common on stage to perform “Straight Outta Compton” “F*ck Tha Police”, and “Today Was a Good Day.” Common then performed his hit “Go” then R. Kelly hit the stage with a surprise cameo appearance singing “Step in the Name of Love” and an intro excerpt of “Bump and Grind.”
The last performance of the night was by J. Cole, ending the night with a bang. J. Cole, opened up with “A Tale of 2 Cities.” He then performed other hits such from his 2014 Forest Hills Drive album such as “No Role Modelz” “Apparently”, “Wet Dreamz.” He also rocked the crowd by reappearing and performing more of his hits such as “Work Out”, “Can’t Get Enough.”
Jeremih also re-appeared on stage with J. Cole and performed his hit “Planez” featuring J. Cole. J. Cole then ended the show with “Power Trip.”
Funding from the festival supports year-round programming for both the Common Ground Foundation and Donda’s House—whose missions are to offer positive alternatives for youth. AAHH! Fest 2016 was sponsored by Allstate Insurance, iHeart Media, The Black McDonald’s Operators of America, Coors Light, Aramak and DO312.
Check out photos of AAHH! fest 2016 below.
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