It's Up: Charged Up’s Grand Finale Delivered a Raw, Unfiltered Celebration of Richmond Hip Hop

A lot of things that are invalid - but this wasn't one of them.

It takes a focused and skilled vessel to rise above the tides — not just to visualize the next wave, but to set it. Charged Up's Grand Finale Concert on Sunday, June 1st did exactly that. An array of regional artists like Chaz French, SK Da King of Drumwork Music, and returning for the 2nd year, Belly Gang Kushington hit the stage in what felt like a raw, unfiltered glimpse into the next tidal wave of the Richmond Hip Hop scene.

The show started at 9PM and ending well after midnight, the fully stacked concert closed out a 6-day stretch of community-driven events, highlighting Hip Hop & Mental Health, hosting community basketball tournaments, an award ceremony, and more. For those plugged in, this wasn’t just a concert, but a culmination of a week-long moment of wellness in Hip Hop. And it felt like a celebration.

Related Article: Noah-O, Chuck Creekmur, Mad Skillz, Ant Marshall, and More Discuss Mental Health & Hip Hop

To some, though, it didn’t feel like Richmond celebrated enough.

But for anyone tuned in, whether novice or seasoned, there was no denying the authenticity and cultural weight packed into the Broadberry that night. Last year’s Charged Up Fest hinted at something big. This year, it proved it. The lineup was stacked: along with the headliners, sets from Waddie Guapo, Pro Dillinger, O-Z, King Delt, Benny Watts, LBE Hunt, MG x P2P Rixh, SK Da King, Like A Rock, and Kaly Jay.

I rolled in right around 9:30PM to Pay2Play Rixh & MG delivering West Coast vibes to a crowd still warming up. King Delt took his turn to remind Unc who's got next, followed by O-Z, backed by the soulful Zhe Queen and sharp lyricism from Vintage. From there it was a steady climb through the night’s heavy hitters: Chaz French repping DC, SK Da King, and returning New York MC Pro Dillinger.

Chaz French

Big No

Some visiting artists made mention of the ebbing energy in the room, hinting at Richmond’s complicated relationship with its own creative and Hip Hop scene. But that hesitation was obliterated once Belly Gang Kushington hit the stage with records like U Need 2 Leave, and Northside’s own Big No playing records from his new album, Junkie Lives Matter III, delivering a performance that reminded everyone how stage presence is supposed to look. Aye bruh, it is what it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkreMoOh-2I

It wasn’t until nearly 1AM that Big No, brought Noah-O to the stage, and from that moment, the remainder of the night was nothing but raw, non-stop energy. Features from Deangelo Xavier, BlaqLiq, LBE Hunt, and others turned the grand finale into something resembling the basement parties that birthed this culture: sweaty, unfiltered, unapologetic.

This was more than a concert. It was a checkpoint in the timeline of Richmond Hip Hop. And while not everyone in the city may have shown up or stayed awake, those who did left knowing, the next wave isn’t coming. It’s already here.

Learn more about Charged Up Ent.