Lil TJay and Aminé top the Block Party 2021 acts

It’s that time of year: University Union has announced an all-star lineup for Block Party 2021. While the event will be virtual, UU coordinated a remarkable ticket that promises to bring the best music to students’ screens.

The concert is free for all Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF students, faculty and staff through University Union’s  ‘Cuse Activities page.

Lil TJay, who first rose to stardom in 2019, is set to headline the event. The 20-year-old is a rapper and singer from the Bronx, has collaborated with some of the biggest names in hip-hop — from Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign to Saweetie and Polo G — and released his second full-length project Destined 2 Win last month. Lil TJay will bring old hits like F.N., new vibes like the Offset and Moneybagg Yo collab Run it Up, and a one-of-a-kind cadence to Block Party.

Second on the bill is Aminé, the 27-year-old rapper out of Portland, Oregon with an indelible groove. Aminé skyrocketed to fame in 2016 with his infectiously catchy single Caroline (and its subsequent self-directed music video). The following year, he proved to be so much more than a song-of-the-summer one-hit wonder, dropping the single “REDMERCEDES” and, later, his first full-length album, Good For You. He further developed his iconic, lowkey delivery on his 2018 project “ONEPOINTFIVE” and his 2020 album Limbo. With hit songs like “BLACKJACK” and the Young Thug collab “Compensating,” Aminé is sure to get the virtual party bumping.

Alternative hip-hop artist Dominic Fike, a 25-year-old from Florida, will also make an appearance at Block Party this year. Fike gained traction in 2018 off just 14 minutes of recorded music on his EP Don’t Forget About Me, Demos. Mega-boy band BROCKHAMPTON further established Fike’s celebrity in 2019, when the group released a YouTube video entitled “This is Dominic Fike,” introducing the young singer and rapper to the group’s feverish fan base. Since then, Fike frequently collaborated with BROCKHAMPTON and their standout star Kevin Abstract, and even landed a spot on Paul McCartney’s McCartney III with “Imagined,” covering The Kiss of Venus. Fortunately for Syracuse students, Fike now has more than 14 minutes of music to work with, having released his first full-length project What Could Possibly Go Wrong in 2020.

SOFI TUKKER balances out a hip-hop-heavy ticket, bringing their funky electronic sound to the screens of Syracuse students. The duo is comprised of 28-year-old Sophie Hawley-Weld and 31-year-old Tucker Halpern, who will perform a DJ set at Block Party. The New York City-based group has been active since 2014, and experienced great success off earworm singles like “Purple Hat,” “Drinkee” and “Best Friend.” With a sound that blends club vibes, acoustic strums, electronic vocals, and thumping house beats, SOFI TUKKER will turn every student’s room into a pandemic-safe dance floor.

Rounding out the 2021 Block Party lineup is Flo Milli, the 21-year-old rapper who blew up last year on the heels of her debut album Ho, why is you here? Hailing from Alabama, Flo Milli is true to the sound of the South, floating over trap beats with a boisterous flow and endless charisma. The hard drums and piano in songs like “Pockets Bigger,” “Not Friendly,” and “Send the Addy” have all the energy of Alabama artist NLE Choppa, but Flo Milli’s unique style has brought something entirely new to the game and is sure to be a tough act to follow next week.