Wild Visuals, Surprises and Top Performances Make a Memorable Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival

Joseph Baura

2016’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival boasted its most star-studded lineup yet. Headlined by artists such as Schoolboy Q, Death Grips, Anderson Paak & The Free Nationals, Lil Wayne, ASAP Rocky, and Chance The Rapper, this year’s carnival showed that Tyler, The Creator and Odd Future pulled out all the stops in providing an eventful environment around the LA Coliseum for all attendees with food, march tents, carnival rides and booth games spread across the grounds. (For the curious: The festival name is an anagram of Odd Future’s moniker, Wolf Gang.)

Beginning on Saturday jazz aficionados had their chance to experience one of the top up and coming acts that jazz has to offer, Kamasi Washington. Shortly after, female electronic/hip-hop DJ, Tokimonsta took to the main stage, bringing along a couple of guests, TDE’s own Isaiah Rashad, fresh off of his release “The Sun’s Tirade,” and emcee Joey Purp. The Flog Stage slowed down the pace with sultry songstress SZA, performing songs off her album “Z.”

Later in the evening, things kept going: The Internet took to the Camp Stage to perform the album “Ego Death,” along with a guest appearance from Tyler, The Creator for “Palace.” ASAP Ferg performed on the Flog stage, where he had fans creating mosh pits and jumping. Then Lil Uzi Vert turned in a set, and while he didn’t run into the crowd as he usually does, he did climb up the support beams of the stage, hanging off the rafters with one hand, as he performed.

Back on the Camp Stage, Chance the Rapper and ASAP Rocky had back-to-back electric performances. Chance the Rapper brought along soulful prodigy DRAM to perform the radio hit, “Broccoli,” and ASAP Rocky turned his solo set into an ASAP Mob reunion by bringing ASAP Ferg on stage to perform “Yamborghini High.” Tyler, The Creator took to the stage as the penultimate performer on the Camp Stage and went through several hits featured on “Goblin,” “Bastard,” “Wolf” and “Cherry Bomb,” before bringing out YG to perform “F*ck Donald Trump.” Saturday’s closer, Lil Wayne lit up the main stage with hip-hop bangers that brought the first night of the carnival to a close.

Sunday started off with performances by Odd Future’s own Left Brain and Mike G, while the velvet vocals of Kali Uchis echoed over the main stage crowd. Gallant bounced around the Camp stage as he sang several favorites off of his debut album, “Ology.” New York took over the Flog stage with the Flatbush Zombies encouraging the crowd to stay heavily medicated while providing their rapid-fire flows paired with some intense psychedelic visuals. The big-bodied bravado of Action Bronson then hit the stage with his signature Queens drawl to perform tracks off his early “Blue Chips” mixtapes and “Mr. Wonderful” album.

Fans darted back and forth between the Camp and Flog stages as Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals performed. Anderson .Paak churned out the usual powerful performance as he played the role of lead vocalist and drummer simultaneously. Rae Sremmurd and the SremmLife Crew hit the Flog stage with so much energy that fans were jumping over the barricades in hopes to join the party antics on stage. A major highlight to the unforgettable weekend, was the Queen of Neo-Soul, Ms. Erykah Badu, who  provided a soulful change of pace to the main stage, as well as offered up powerful commentary on the current political climate.

All weekend, the crowd was buzzing in anticipation of who would perform Sunday’s surprise camp stage set labeled “TBA.” The slot ended up being filled by Earl Sweatshirt in a reunion with Tyler, The Creator as Earlwolf. It has been years since fans have seen them on stage together. While it felt like the Earlwolf reunion couldn’t be topped, Camp Floggers had the choice to see either Death Grips or Schoolboy Q close out this year’s carnival. It was difficult to choose, so many fans were running back and forth between each set to get a taste of both.

Judging from the enthusiasm the crowd brought to the event, we are positive that we aren’t the only ones excited for next year.

Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival took over Exposition Park Nov. 12 and 13.