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Hip-hop was alive and kicking in the East Atlanta Village this weekend for the 5th annual A3C Festival. Over 200 artists, producers and DJs brought fans to venues in the ATL and there was truly something for every kind of rap music listener out there.

From the iStandard Producer Battle—judged by Don Cannon, Tha Bizness, Illmind and J.U.S.T.I.C.E League—to Friday’s (October 2) 45 showdown with Jake One and Vitamin D, to the incomparable Big Tune: All Star Edition with Battlecat, DJ Premier, Diamond D, 9th Wonder, Marco Polo and Oddisee, producers showed up in full force to this year’s A3C.

Some of the biggest buzz of the weekend swirled around the Perfect Attendance events held at the Five Spot. Young Atlanta came out in droves to see up-and-coming East Coast artists Donny Goines, Skyzoo, Outasight, and Tanya Morgan on Thursday and Midwest acts Mikkey Halsted, Stalley and Kidz in the Hall came through on Friday. West Coast rappers El Prez, Diz Gibran and U.N.I. hit the stage on Saturday, while J. Cole, Joe Scudda, Big Pooh, Yelawolf, Pill and Curren$y showed southern hospitality all weekend long. 

Other big names at the fest included Rakim, who was at an event called The Relapse with Killer Mike on Saturday and Urb magazine had a showcase involving XXL Alumnus B.o.B. 

All in all, the events went off without a hitch and the consensus throughout the weekend among the parties involved was that it felt like hip-hop summer camp.-Janeé Bolden

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