Steph Simon Brings Hip Hop to Tulsa Mayfest in Headlining Fashion
Steph Simon brought hip hop to Tulsa Mayfest in style with his headlining performance this past weekend, hitting the stage with his band, the Rowlands. A non-hip hop festival having a hip hop main act may not sound crazy to the average person, but it’s a special moment for those who know and understand how the genre has fought for over 50 years to get the recognition it deserves in the music industry.
“We definitely made our presence felt with this one,” said Steph as he pointed out his hoarse voice from a night of raps, “this was our best show that we’ve ever did.” Steph Simon and the Rowlands clearly didn’t disappoint.
Quincy Edwards, Alexandrea Westbrook, Steph Simon, Tiffany Michelle at SXSW 2024
With Mayfest falling on Mother’s Day weekend, the successful night came at the front end of what’s usually a somber day for the Tulsa native who lost his mother in 2008. “I wouldn’t be a rapper had she not passed,” says Simon, “so sometimes I be understanding Kanye West’s craziness… if you don’t have a good foundation around you, you really can spiral.”
He let us know that he’s finally been able to look positively at situation with his verse on Dr. View’s album, Tidy, where Simon dedicates his verse to his mom and “let it all out on some release sh*t to where [he doesn’t] get sad about it anymore.”
The Tulsa legend continues to hit new heights and put on for his state.
