With many of hip hop’s most talented artists emerging from Atlanta, it’s no surprise that the premiere rap and R&B festival would be hosted here. One Music Fest is a music festival featuring hip-hop favorites, this year happening October 28-October 29 in Piedmont Park. This year for the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, the festival’s set list will include trailblazers of the genre and artists who’ve helped form hip hop as we know it today. Here are some of the female artists you don’t want to miss this month at ONE Music.
1. Danielle Ponder
With headlining acts like Megan Thee Stallion and Kendrick Lamar, it can be easy to overlook artists lower on the set list for One Music. Danielle Ponder, however, is one you don’t want to miss. Her formal education primed her for a career in law, but in 2018 she began pursuing music full-time: a long-held passion of hers. According to her bio, Ponder was raised in a highly religious environment, her first introduction to secular music was through the Columbia House Record Club and singers like Lauren Hill, Alanis Morisette, and Pearl Jam. Her music is heartfelt and authentic, drawing on her past experiences in the church and in law as well as experimenting with a mix of genres like pop, R&B, and hip hop.
2. Trina
In 2023, we are finally in a new age of female rappers, however, 25 years ago when longstanding rap legend Trina was coming up, she was one of few women in the industry. Partnering with Trick Daddy on numerous tracks, Trina came to fame while inventing the genre of “scammer rap.” She has not only paved the way for but has supported and collaborated with newer artists like Yung Miami and Megan Thee Stallion. Her usage of provocative lyrics and open sexuality in her work sparked controversy at the time but is now a common theme with female artists.
3. The Lady of Rage
Known mostly for her collaborations with artists like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog, The Lady of Rage has been an instrumental part of the rap genre since her entrance into music in 1988. Rage was one of the only women signed to Death Row Records in the ’90s, and her presence in the industry helped pave the way for future female artists to come. Her debut album “Necessary Roughness” was released in 1997 after being postponed for several years. After this she ventured into acting with longtime role as Coretta Cox on “Steve Harvey Show.” Despite only having one album out, The Lady of Rage’s impact on music is undeniable. Her hit song “Afro Puffs” was featured in the movie “Above the Rim,” and has helped its soundtrack achieve a cult following among fans. Her presence at One Music Fest is a rare chance for fans of 90s hip hop to see her talent firsthand.
4. Coco Jones
Coco Jones came into prominence with the release of the Disney Movie “Let It Shine” where she plays singer Roxie Andrews. A snippet of a live stream of hers went viral in 2020, amassing millions of views on TikTok. In the clip, she refers to her time at Disney saying “Yes I did that, and you would do it too for a check,” the line has since been remixed to refer to everything from middle school businesses to scamming people online and the viral clip has reminded the public of Jone’s persistent humor and authenticity. She has since starred in numerous TV shows including the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” reboot “Bel-Air,” and is a consistent figure in pop culture news. Her latest album, “What I Didn’t Tell You” draws inspiration from classic R&B and modern artists like SZA and Summer Walker.
5. Megan Thee Stallion
No One Music Fest article would be complete without mention of Megan Thee Stallion With over 25 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, she is an undeniable powerhouse in music. Her festival performance during Atlanta’s Music Midtown in 2021 was a “highly-anticipated crowd pleaser” and she is sure to impress the “hotties” once again at One Music Fest on October 28.
One Music Fest 2023 will occur Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29 in Piedmont Park. Make sure to buy your tickets far in advance, general admission tickets are sure to sell out soon.
