SXSW: DNas Reports Live from Austin: Day 1

The Bay Area has a strong presence at SWSX this year. Rap acts, rock acts and everyone in between will be vying for new fans and exposure in the streets of Austin, a Texas city turned indy music mecca for the week. It's exciting and overwhelming, but luckily Dnas, the host of Streets Is Talking Radio, has partnered with 38thnotes to live blog his journey through Austin. Check 38thnotes for daily updates from DNas as he tracks Bay Area artists and other up-and-coming acts. You can also follow DNas on twitter at @DNas. Take it away sir...

Setting up Shop

I've been in Austin, Texas since 9am Tuesday morning... Not knowing that: 1) I'm 20 miles away from downtown Austin aka at least $55 cab ride each way and 2) check in was at 3am I had to plead for a room. A little over 24hrs later I'm now headed to downtown to check out events at SxSw... I'm riding to Downtown Austin with Bay Area artist Mike Dash E. Our cab driver is coincidentally from Richmond CA, Turkish dude named Ferit... Hella hyphy...

Day 1

We reached SXSW yesterday around 4:30-5ish... As soon as you walk down the streets you are welcomed by artists eager to give you music and receive music. Hip-Hop has only been around at SXSW for 3 years or so, so most events happen at night. Rolling with Mike Dash E, we passed out hella "Clap City 2" albums to people just walking around... We were amazed to see how juiced they were to get music. Being from the Bay you rarely hear "Thank you so much" after passing out music.

After aimlessly walking around for 2-3 hours we ran into Moe Green and Erk Tha Jerk who were preparing for performances later that night. It seemed like more and more familiar faces were popping up... We ran into Los Rakas who have a show tonight with Erk, Moe Green, League510, and more... Video coming soon.

As many may know I'm a huge fan of the DC hip hop music scene so it was my pleasure to run into singer Raheem DeVaughn who heads 368 Music. I thought I interviewed him but the camera was too full of memory (Yea one of those of fuck moments).

Later on got to see Droop-E in his first live performance ever at the Fuze show with Moe Green. Today we're going to see YellaWolf, Cyhi The Prince and check out the previously mentioned Audible Treats show as well... Video is coming later... Oh yea it's St Pattys Day so the alcohol will be flowing!!!