Lyrical Lemonade’s 2024 Summer Smash Breaks Records During Chief Keef’s Homecoming

By: iLLANOiZE Team

The Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash returned for its second round at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview from June 14th to 16th, 2024. Presented by SPKRBX, this three-day music festival brought together hip-hop enthusiasts from all corners of the city and across the globe.

Festivals grounds from atop of the Ferris Wheel. Credits: @jackbvisuals

​The transition from West Side Chicago’s Douglass Park to SeatGeek Stadium was a bold move, but it is surely paying off. This year, the festival integrated more throughout the stadium, providing additional access, including box office areas and lounges.

The excitement reached its peak when it was announced that Chicago’s own Chief Keef would headline the final night. But before fans could experience Keef’s performance, they were treated to talented acts that graced the stage earlier in the day.
​
The weather matched the summertime festival vibe that Summer Smash delivers. Among the crowd, you could spot people wearing various gear, from jerseys to official Summer Smash/Lyrical Lemonade merchandise and tour tees representing their favorite artists. The “I <3 Sosa” trucker hats also made it’s way throughout the festival grounds.

I <3 Sosa Trucker. Credits @GroovNuke

Keef’s roots in the city’s hardcore music scene and his influence within the Drill culture made him a “dream come true” festival headliner. Fans were ready to witness history in the making. His impact had reached such controversial heights that he hadn’t performed in the Chicagoland area since his teenage years. Several measures had to be taken to ensure he could grace the stage in front of a wave of fans to learn more about those measure Mark P Braboy put together an insightful feature via Complex.
​
A record-breaking 120,000+ concertgoers came out to see over 50 artists, along with special guests and attractions. Three stages provided ample room for thousands of people to enjoy their favorite tunes. This year, the concert grounds were set up a bit differently, particularly near the main Lyrical Lemonade stage. Seemingly, this setup aimed to create a safer environment with more space for the increased number of attendees.

Festival Grounds. Credits: JackBVisuals

As the sun fixed to dip below the horizon, the crowd ignited to performances from the likes of Bktherula, Big Sean, Flo Milli, That Mexican OT, and Destroy Lonely. and Chicago’s own Vonoff1700 made his Summer Smash debut as well after emerging as a newcomer in the game. That Mexican OT, recently announced for the 2024 XXL Freshman Class, delivered an exceptional performance, and his growing fanbase showed up and showed out for him.

​Big Sean, who hit the scene early on during the beloved “Blog Era” days, played tracks from across his discography, taking listeners back with iconic singles such as “Mercy.” Lyrical Lemonade Founder Cole Bennett even took the stage to show Sean some love during his set.

Cactus Jack Lights Up Friday Night

Friday ended on a special note as Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack label stepped into the spotlight. With SoFaygo, ChaseB, Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, and Scott himself, they delivered their first-ever label performance. The crowd erupted when ‘Mo Bamba’ by Sheck Wes hit the speakers. The breakout single for Sheck is a stadium anthem across the world, and fans finally got a chance to see him go live with it. Don Toliver, graced the stage right before Travis Scott, with the two of them performing their melodic artistry together.

Scott then took on the stage by himself, performing singles such as ‘BUTTERFLY EFFECT’ and ‘SICKO MODE,’ leaving fans in awe. Cactus Jack closed out with all of them performing together. Their first-ever label performance proved to be a success.
 
Saturday Night Was Live

Saturday continued the adrenaline rush, with acts like Lil Skies ready to rock the Lyrical Lemonade crowd. Chicago’s own Lucki’s fanbase skyrocketed year after year, and they all met him near the SPKRBX following the release of his album Gemini. Fans were also met with a surprise as Mick Jenkins performed The Water(s) alongside The Mind.

Kodak Black got off into the crowd to enjoy himself during his birthday weekend, hitting the main stage with singles such as ‘Like That’ and ‘ZEZE’.  BIA brung out Chicago's own Lil Blessin during her set to perform 'Likka Sto (Remix)' together. Big ups to her for the assist on a larger scale time after time for the emerging Blessin. 

One of the most surprising sets of the weekend came from emerging Atlanta artist Baby Kia. His expressive temperament and brash lyricism made him a viral sensation, being a face for what is classified as “crashout” music in his generation. Although it can be represented as a serious matter for the youth, he knew exactly how to rock the stage when thousands of fans were ready to see him perform. His Summer Smash performance capture unforgettable hype for him to feed on moving forward.

Playboi Carti headlined for the third consecutive year, performing ten new songs for fans amidst performances from his full Opium label. This year, the fans seemed more controlled, perhaps due to heightened security across the festival grounds. Summer Smash also marked the only North American performances for both Travis Scott and Playboi Carti so far in 2024.

Sosa’s Home!
On Sunday, the anticipation for Sosa couldn’t be contained any longer. Emerging artist Anycia, from Atlanta, graced the SPKRBX stage with her laid-back approach to artistry. She even brought a fan on stage to perform her early breakout single, ‘BRB.’ Her delivery resonated throughout the festival weekend. 

Following a brief weather delay, the concert resumed with acts like J.I.D., Denzel Curry, Waka Flocka Flame, Lil Yachty, and YG Marley taking the stage before the main event. Bay-Area’s own Lil B was just hitting the stage getting the crowd hype with an ode to Chicago juke when evacuation measures came into play. 

Keef came out a little later than the expected 9 pm due to delay, but he delivered, capping off an unforgettable weekend. He set included tracks from the early days such as 'John Madden' and 'Love Sosa' all the way to his latest works in Almighty So 2.

It was Father’s Day, so he and fellow Chicago artist G Herbo, who he brought through,  both graced the stage with their firstborns. Along with Herb, fellow Glo Gang artists such as Tadoe and Ballout all reunited on stage with Keef. It was a reunion for the ages, and fans left fulfilled. 

LL Prop Stand. Credits: JackBVisuals

Hats off to Lyrical Lemonade, SPRKBX, and company for yet another record-breaking event. They enhanced security and attractions to ensure a safe environment for festival-goers. Despite occasional incidents that occur at large festivals, Summer Smash still reigns on as the largest independent festival in the Midwest.

The challenge moving forward is to top such a monumental moment for not just Chicagoland, but now music history. Bringing Chief Keef home was a challenge that was tried numerous times to no avail. What could possibly be next after something like that? Time will tell. Around this time next year, more acts will emerge across the city and industry to make. For more updates. Make sure to download the illanoize radio app or subscribe to our YouTube channel.