Exclusive: Rae Sremmurd, Fat Joe, Remy Ma to play free shows at 2016 BET Experience
The 2016 BET Experience is unveiling the first acts booked for free concerts during the four-day festival.
Buzzy Kanye West protégé Desiigner, chart-topping brother duo Rae Sremmurd and revered hip-hop veterans Fat Joe and Remy Ma are among those set to perform during the festival’s two-day BETX Fan Fest, event organizers have revealed to The Times.
The free happenings, set for June 25-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, also will feature performances from O.T. Genasis, Kevin Gates, Dreezy, Jacquees, Chloe x Halle, Jovaine, Bibi Bourelly, BJ the Chicago Kid, Ro James, Kodie Shane, Detroit Che, Candice Boydand and AKA.
BET’s fan expo curates a breadth of free counterprogramming that supplements the ticketed offering of hip-hop, R&B and comedy concerts built around the network’s award show.
Aside from performances, the convention center also will host a star-studded celebrity basketball game (Chris Brown, Meek Mill, Omarion and Snoop Dogg all played last year), fashion and beauty seminars and Genius Talk discussions with celebrities and luminaries.
The American Black Film Festival will host screenings at L.A. Live’s Regal Cinemas, while acting workshops will be conducted inside the convention center.
More performers and expo programming is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Ticketed events for this year’s BET Experience kick off June 23, with embattled comedian Katt Williams and Mike Epps headlining at Staples Center.
R&B megastar Usher and rising alt-R&B/hip-hop singers Bryson Tiller and Kehlani, along with rapper Madeintyo, will headline the second night.
Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz will close the weekend of shows at Staples when they perform from their recently released collaborative album, “ColleGrove.” The duo will be joined by rising rappers Fetty Wap, ASAP Ferg, Kodak Black and hip-hop singers Ty Dolla Sign and Tory Lanez.
Hip-hop producer Metro Boomin and the Roots are set to headline late-night shows at the Novo (formerly Club Nokia) June 24 and 25, respectively.
Tickets are on sale now through Axs. Single-day Staples Center show tickets start at $59.50, with three-day packages starting at $148.50. Novo ticket prices vary by artist.
VIP packages, which include a ticket to the awards show, range from $1,095 to $4,500. More information can be found on the festival’s website, including registration for some of the popular free events at the two-day expo.
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