There are sets you catch. And then there are sets you have to see.
A longtime Hopscotch favorite, Jooselord has earned a reputation as one of the most electrifying live performers to come out of the South. The Harlem-born, Durham-raised rapper, also known as the Moshpit Messiah, is hip-hop at his core, but the energy of his live show is pure punk and pure emotion.
Jooselord does not simply perform. He brings people into the experience with him. His shows are explosive, yet somehow deeply emotional, and he has a rare ability to make you feel seen and connected even when you’re standing in a sea of people. He gives the crowd his energy, his vulnerability, his joy, his grief and his whole heart. And they give it right back. That sense of community is at the heart of every Jooselord show.
You might mosh. You might scream. You might cry. You might just stand there in awe. You WILL feel.
This year’s Hopscotch set carries even deeper meaning as Jooselord dedicates the performance to the memory of his son, Onyx. That love is also at the heart of All Onyx World, a free multi-venue Durham festival honoring Onyx that debuts October 30, Jooselord’s birthday.
