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EPIC FEST 2016: SUPER-LIT

L.A. Reid and Epic held their second annual #EpicFest on Saturday (6/25). The packed-to-the-rafters affair at the Sony Pictures Studios backlot was essentially an extravagant summer BBQ (complete with Shake Shack burgers, Patrón at the bar and Lil' Jon on the turntables) as Reid introduced his starting line-up of artists to the elite tastemakers of the music biz.

Seen hanging in the building were Apple Music's Jimmy Iovine, Bozoma Saint-John and Zane Lowe, Troy Carter from Spotify, Big Boi and Andre 3000, Jermaine Dupri, Kelly Rowland, Randy Jackson, Randy Phillips, Diane Warren, Def Jam execs Chris Atlas and Courtni Asbury, plus TV notables like Lorne Michaels and Lindsay Shookus from SNL and Scott Igoe from Kimmel, not to mention Drake's dad and Puffy's mom. HITS' own Lenny Beer was spotted attempting to make a bong out of a pineapple.

Epic chief L.A. Reid feeling Fest-ive with DJ Khaled, label prexy
Sylvia Rhone, Big Boi and Andre 3000, and Future.

The live Twitter feed rolling throughout the day ramped up the event to being the #3 Trending Topic in the country.

A string of killer performances were featured, from Timeflies, Kat Dahlia, French Montana and Jidenna, who really brought the crowd to its feet as he danced with an enormous African medicine god for a unique and dynamic show.

KONGOS followed with a rousing four-song set that included the reggae-flavored "I Want To Know,"which had everybody swaying, and closing with their current hit, "Take It From Me."

We the Best's DJ Khaled certainly rocked the crowd. "You know I'm fresh off that Beyoncé stage, right?" Khaled reminded everyone, as both Busta Rhymes and new protégé Kent Jones, who performed "Don't Mind," joined him onstage.

Then Future closed the party, with a tight set for a full house that was still there after dark. "I really feel like in 2016," he announced to the crowd, "Epic Records went to another level."

Reid regales sirens Brienna DeVlugt, Kristal Lyndriette, Ashly Williams, Gabby Carreiro, Shyann Roberts of June's Diary and Kelly Rowland; Alt-rock breakouts KONGOS throw some shade; and Spotify's Troy Carter was having a perfectly lovely time until he was accosted by manager Jonathan Kalter and HITS Editor in Chief Lenny Beer.

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