Crunk pioneers Lil Jon and the Ying Yang Twins to perform July 4 at state fairgrounds
The Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center has a habit of bringing a mix of performers to its summer concert bill that blend nostalgia and vogue. But this Fourth of July, a single show will transcend generations of hip-hop fans when the king of crunk takes the Salem stage.
The festivities will crescendo into a party when Lil Jon and the Ying Yang Twins perform the night of July 4 at the L.B. Day Amphitheater.
The duo is taking it back to 2002, when they joined forces for the album “Kings of Crunk” that rocketed the hip-hop subgenre into the mainstream. The album is best known for the anthem “Get Low,” which two decades later is still blared in house parties, nightclubs and the like.
Lil Jon is widely credited with popularizing crunk – high-energy, dance-style rap that emerged from the south in the early 1990s with its trademark heavy bass and group chants. His chart-topping songs include “Snap Yo Fingers,” “Turn Down For What” and “Shots.”
The Ying Yang Twins, pioneers of the subgenre in their own right, made waves throughout the 2000s with hits like “Salt Shaker” and “Shake.”
Those who attend will have about four hours to enjoy the festivities before the concert starts with more than a dozen carnival rides, including Tilt-A-Whirl, Yo-Yo and a merry-go-round.
The fairgrounds’ gates open at 4 p.m. Doors open for the concert at the amphitheater at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.
The performers will set the stage for a free 20-minute fireworks show. Organizers recommend bringing a blanket or chairs.
Concert tickets will go on sale Friday, May 2 at 9 a.m., and people can sign up for presale access online. Carnival tickets will be available in person at the event.
Parking is $10 per car for those who buy at the event, and VIP parking is $20 online in advance.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered the justice system and public safety for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
