Center of Gravity 2018 keeps up the legacy of stellar lineups
Story and Photos by: Savannah Bagshaw Video created by: Nick Csek
Center of Gravity is notorious for playing host to some of the most relevant and iconic acts in the EDM and Hip-Hop world.Names like Skrillex, Ice Cube, MGK, ScHoolboy Q, Marshmello and Snoop Dogg have all tore up the stage within the last three years, cementing the festival as one of the go-to destinations for ravers and Hip-Hop junkies alike.
The eleventh year of the festival has been no exception to the rule of legends, as European producer ZEDD, iconic group Wu-Tang Clan and rapper French Montana are at the helm of the 2018 festival.
ZEDD
Day one of a music festival is always the most magical. For annual attendees it’s like coming home after a year long journey away, and for first-timers, it is akin to discovering a new world.
When you think of that stomach full of butterflies feeling that goes along with the first day, it can be hard to peg just the soundtrack to play in your head. However, for those who were in the sea of people at City Park Friday night, you’ll know ZEDD can perfectly encapsulate that idea.
Though having injured his ankle the morning prior to his COG debut, ZEDD still brought infectious energy and a feel-good setlist, perfect for an opening night.
A sense of wonder and excitement hung over the concert bowl thicker than the layer of smoke coating the valley, as ZEDD’s most anthemic mixes, mashups and creations rang through the downtown core.
From the first drop, fans were enamoured, and starving for more, constantly jumping and screaming throughout the entirety of his performance.
It’s hard to feel anything but happy during a ZEDD set.
From his latest gems like “Stay,” “Middle,” “I Want You To Know,” along with fun takes on songs from different genres, like “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes, and a few classics added to the mix, the producer’s extensive catalogue had the crowd of 8,000 beaming through the entirety of his hour and a half set time.
Juicy J
A late addition to the COG 2018 family, Juicy J filled Action Bronson’s spot as Saturday night’s second headliner. Founding member of Hip-Hop group Three 6 Mafia, Juicy J is a highly respected name in the biz, and a legend without a doubt.
Though only added to the bill less than a week ago, Juicy J drew a fairly massive crowd of eager fans. Ready to party, J sauntered onto the stage while simultaneously sparking one up commenting on Canada’s soon to be 420 friendly nature, and then dove into “A Zip And A Double Cup.”
Quick to comment on the pretty ladies in the audience, it wasn’t long before 20 lucky attendees were invited on stage to groove along to J’s landmark hit “Bandz Make Her Dance.”
Filled with vivacious energy and what felt like genuine happiness to be performing, J kept the crowd’s hype level at its peak, often prompting mosh pits, chants and for fans to rap along with him to Three 6 Mafia classics like “Stay Fly.”
A perfect choice for a seamless transition into a night focused on the fundamentals of Hip-Hop, Juicy J may not have been part of the original selection for the lineup but he was definitely the man for the job.
WU-TANG CLAN
Archetypes of Hip-Hop, Wu-Tang Clan gave a performance that transported an entire audience to one of the most monumental years for the genre, 1993.
The group not only celebrated the first time all nine original members have been able to perform together in Canada, but it was also their musical 25th anniversary.
To commemorate the milestone achievement, the outfit performed their debut album, Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in its entirety.
The framework for the many avenues of Hip-Hop, 36 Chambers flipped the genre on its head back in the early 90s. With its raw production, sampling and genre-hopping, the record paved the way for not only emerging Hip-Hop and Rap artists, but EDM producers and Rock musicians as well.
The biggest draw of the weekend, eager fans were riddled with excitement on Saturday, and were representing the pioneer group by wearing their merchandise proudly all day.
Attendance looked as though it had doubled from Friday night, as 15 minutes prior to set time the concert bowl was filled with a tsunami tide of fans rushing in.
The lights went dim and a thundering rumble shook the ground through the speakers as each member emerged from the shadowed edges of the stage.
RZA, however, came out rambunctious as ever, shaking a bottle of champagne and letting it shower the front row of fans.
Immediately launching into “Bring Da Ruckus,” the guys wasted no time setting the tone for the night before catapulting the next song on the track list into the crowd.
Even after a quarter of a century, each member hit their ques and never missed a beat, personifying their lyrics with electrifying attitude.
Each line injected into the crowd went straight to the heart, igniting the same radiating spark within each fan as they bobbed in unison alongside the legends on stage, rapping every word in perfect time.
“We want to focus on real hip-hop tonight,” said RZA.
And with that the group busted out two blueprint examples of the old school Hip-Hop era, “Wu Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit” and “C.R.E.A.M.,” raising havoc within the crowd in the best possible way.
A rowdy, wild and down right unbelieveable time, the Wu-Tang Clan’s performance was all fans had hoped for and more.
From mosh pits breaking out during “Protect Ya Neck,” to an intense and passion-ridden “Tearz,” where fans stood atop each others shoulders, the influential Wu-Tang Clan more than demonstrated why they are deemed the number one Hip-Hop group in the world.
FRENCH MONTANA
Undoubtably one of the most common names heard in the Rap and Hip-Hop scene for the last two years, French Montana has been featured on countless tracks with some of the biggest names of the last decade including Canada's own, Drake.
Having flown in from Vegas just a few hours prior to his set at Center of Gravity delaying him by half an hour, Montana still came out with with high energy to greet his Okanagan fans.
Though Montana has put out his own albums, he is most famously known for his cameo's in other artists songs. So naturally, fans got more than just Montana himself, as he played tidbits of various songs from the last five years that he has worked on.
Bringing the hype, Montana started his set off with a portion of his 2013 feature on A$AP Ferg's "Work" before taking the crowd's excitement to a whole new level with Fat Joe's "All The Way Up."
Highlights of the night however, would have to be Montana's originals. 2011's "Shot Caller" brought forward heavy nostalgia and had fans rapping the lyrics alongside him.
There is no way the crowd would let him leave without performing his most popular track "Unforgettable" as not only did it encompass the entire weekend in one word, but it was the perfect way to cap it all off.
It was an unforgettable weekend filled with legendary performances from not only the headliners, but from each act to conquer the main stage.
The COG 2018 soundtrack was pure bliss not only to those in the concert bowl, but the ones set up in City Park and all of downtown Kelowna who had the chance to listen in on another stellar year.
