This week's "A Short Walk" playlist is on Youtube. Click here now to start listening to the playlist in a new window, then keep reading to learn more about CHREECE!

Somehow I convinced MFT blog editor Taylor to let me take over the blog this week for the 45th WEEKLY installment of his "A Short Walk" playlist (and Taylor kills it week after week on both the playlist and informing us all about the best upcoming shows, as you can see from #44, #43, #42, etc.). But this time, the short walk will actually be a long walk, and it will take you to six different venues in Fountain Square, Indianapolis, where you will meet like 60-something different hip hop artists, producers, DJs, trappers, backpackers, conscious rappers, poets, weirdos, and music lovers of all kinds.

Now just W-T-actual-F am I talking about? It's that magical combination of "cheers" and "peace," AKA Chreece - a hip hop festival being held this Saturday, August 29th 2015 (2 PM - 2 AM), with proceeds benefitting your favorite Indiana music nonprofit organization, Musical Family Tree. (Side note: check out this recent video to learn more about MFT and why we work so hard to do things like Chreece in our community.)

If you haven't heard about Chreece for some reason, then you've come to the right place. If you already know everything about it, skip the next paragraph and just go watch the MASSIVE FREAKING PLAYLIST of youtube videos posted below. Trust me, you're gonna love it.

For the newcomers to Chreece, start by following the fest on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Then go check out all the great daily coverage courtesy of Bringing Down The Band. Then maybe see what the Indy Star had to say when reporter Dave Lindquist met with head Chreece organizer Oreo Jones and emcees Ace One, Pope Adrian Bless, and John Stamps. Then there's Seth Johnson's in-depth peice on the fest over at Sky Blue Window. Oh and of course keep an eye out for this week's print NUVO (hitting stands on Wednesday) for some delicious Chreece-flavored surprises!

Enough with the hype, let's watch some damn music videos already! Like 80-something of 'em, highlighting the insane variety of talent in Indiana's one-of-a-kind hip hop scene:
 

Ok, so maybe they're not all music videos - a few are just tracks with still images, but they're all awesome tracks and they represent many different kinds of sounds, all uniting together for one late-summer day and a whole bunch of good vibes. From what I can tell, that has been Oreo's main focus from the beginning on this fest: making sure that all lanes would be represented, and allowing Chreece to paint a musical portrait of how varied and diverse hip hop music can be in the midwest. 

Some listeners won't even consider all of this to be strictly "hip hop," which is fine by me. Whatever labels or mini-genres you use to define it, music as an artform brings people together, and that's precisely what Chreece is doing. I've already witnessed it first-hand on many occasions, and the event hasn't even happened yet! 

Watch the playlist intently, or put it on in the background as you go about your day. With at least 80 videos hand-selected from all across Youtube's wide universe, there's plenty of Chreece to go around on this playlist. You get a blend of new and classic bangers from artists like Sirius Black, Chicago's Mick Jenkins, Nathan Arizona, Beverly Bounce House, Poindexter tha Great, Ejaaz, Nagasaki Dirt, Drayco McCoy, Rehema McNeil, Rusty & Kinetik, Psalm One (another great Chicago emcee), Diop, Strong Roots, and that's barely scratching the surface. If you don't know most of those names, it's time to get familiar! 

I want to add that we've been thrilled by the positivity and willingness to lend a hand that many people have shown leading up to Chreece. Oreo started with a clear and direct vision, and he has carried it out gracefully, assisted by some of the kindest and most hard-working people in the city. I feel like MFT has been warmly embraced by Indiana's hip hop artists, and it doesn't just feel like a community - it feels like a family. Forgive me if that's sentimental, but I mean it. Thanks to Oreo and everyone else who has made this happen!

My role in the whole thing has largely been one of support, planning, and seeking sponsorship for the fest. Speaking of which, we have some incredible sponsors who have been crucial in making Chreece happen at all. Because of these great organizations, we're not only putting on a fun event, we're also able to pay the performers for their work. And we definitely think they deserve it!

So call me a sellout if you will (OK, I'm definitely a sellout - but I only do it for the best reasons), but I'm going to name each and every one of the groups who helped make this happen, link to their websites, and post a photo of their logos below. If you can't handle that sort of thing, just go back that badass playlist I made for you, and be sure to share it if you like it!

GET TICKETS TO CHREECE HERE  

See the full lineup and make a custom schedule here

Chreece is made possible by:
Victory MFG
Cutty Sark Prohibition
Red Bull
La Margarita
Milktooth
Kolman Dental
Well Done Marketing

With additional support from:
Do317
Sam Ash
Indy CD & Vinyl
SmallBox
Pattern
Big Car
GPC
Klipsch
Deckademics
Bringing Down The Band
BrainTwins