Nearly three years after Run the Jewels had by far one of the best performances at Lollapalooza on one of the not so main stages, they’re now returning as the closest you can be to a headliner for the upcoming 2017 edition of the once three-day music festival in Chicago’s famed Grant Park, which is now four days. One of upwards of six acts, who are returning for the second time in five years to the Lolla stage. Also joining them for their second time at Grant Park in that time frame in a few more weeks is Chicago’s very own Chance the Rapper, as well as The Killers, Cage the Elephant, The Head and the Heart and Phantogram. With only about a week and a half till this year’s Lollapalooza, the speculation really starts to begin on how can be brought out as special surprise guests like there has been throughout the years.
Looking at this year’s lineup, there probably wouldn’t be as many surprise guests as in previous years, which has seen Eminem bring his Bad Meets Evil groupmate Royce Da 5’9”, as well as Rihanna in 2014. That 2014 edition also seeing Chance bring out R. Kelly for his own headlining set that year for one of the more legendary ones and speaking of Chance, him being brought out by Future and Flosstradamus last year for their sets. Among the surprises also brought out last year that really are embedded in people’s memories of some of the more memorable ones, is Alternative Rock group, X Ambassadors bringing out legendary all-around living music legend, Chicago’s very own, Tom Morello of legendary Rock group, Rage Against the Machine and even fellow legendary Alternative Rock group, Jane’s Addiction, also bringing out Morello during their headling set last year. Or even A$AP Ferg brining out legendary Chicago emcee, Twista last year during his set.
While this year it will probably be pretty hard to top any of those. Considering a lot of acts where trying to outdo the other one last year because of it being the 25th Anniversary of Lollapalloza and why there was probably a few more guest surprises than usual. There is still the possibility of a few happening for this year’s Lolla.
A couple of names that really come to mind a lot and I wouldn’t be surprised to possibly see making special guest appearances during one or two sets at this year’s Lolla is Vic Mensa and Jhené Aiko. Though Vic is not on this year’s lineup like he was last year, he may end up being this year’s version of Chance from last year, who pops up for one or more sets as a surprise guest. Whether it be during Chance’s own headlining set or even Kaytranada’s set. With Mensa’s upcoming highly-anticipated debut album, The Autobiography, dropping this Friday July 28th, this would be the perfect cross-promotion for him to get the word out more about his album too. As far as Ms. Aiko with her current boyfriend and TWENTY88 groupmate, Big Sean being one of the main headliners for the final day of Lollapalooza on Sunday Aug. 6th, there is obviously a pretty good chance she may show up as a surprise guest during his set and return to Grant Park for the first time since her very memorable and intimately timeless debut performance at Lolla nearly three years ago.
Unfortunately for a lot of Lollapalooza festival-goers, if they’re expecting any more surprise guest then that being a possibility for that first weekend in August, I really don’t see any more being a possibility. Unless they are of other performers bringing out performers already scheduled to perform at Lolla and the big cross-performance variety. The biggest possibilities of such performances happening being Wiz Khalifa and Lil Uzi Vert on the first day of Lolla that Thursday Aug. 3rd, or even Migos and Uzi Vert that same day. With the very good possibility of them performing together their smash hit No. 1 single and collabo, Bad and Boujee. There is also the possibility of Noname being brought out by Chance during his headlining set for their Acid Rap collabo, Lost. Though I also wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t.
Whether any big name or even small name guest surprises are brought out or not, I think it should be another really jam-packed four days of Lollapalooza. Which I’m sure me and many others will be looking forward to whether there does end up being any surprises or not.