Nisville 2026: Hip-hop heard from multiple stages

This year again, Nišville revived the city for a few August days. Jazz has remained the basis of the festival, but when one passes through the gates and goes from stage to stage, it has long been clear that Nisville is a much wider musical story.

And hip-hop has had a place in that story for years.

From 13 to 15 August, Hip-Hop Stage brought together local MCs, DJs, producers and bands, until hip-hop was heard only from that stage in those days. DJ Goce was on the main program with Afro Gitano, and rap and DJ culture ran through various festival combinations.

For the Budjenje, of course, that part of Nisville was the most interesting.

Three nights of Hip-Hop Stage

This year's Hip-Hop Stage program wasn't trying to introduce just one generation or one sound.

The first evening the stage was opened by DJ Sunrise, followed by an appearance before the Niš audience by Mikri Maus. He came out with his leg in a cast, which did not prevent him from performing and making one of the scenes that will be remembered from this year's festival.

Mikri was followed by Raid Kyu Band. Turntables, samplers and DJ skills were not alone on stage this time – Raid performed with a live band, in a format that may be best suited to where hip-hop and jazz meet naturally.

Nemus for the first time in the new release

The second evening he opened the Jahmesenjah Sound, but the Niš audience was particularly interested in NEMUS live.

Nemanja Nedeljkovic, who we already know as half of Stereo Banana, did not take the stage this time in that role. He presented his new project, new songs and live cast in front of the local audience.

For someone who has been part of the Nis scene for years, this may be a new name on the poster, but he is certainly not the new man behind the music.

And that is why Nemus' performance was not just another item in the program, but the beginning of a new story.

The evening was closed by a Greek producer and DJ Mister T.

CYA, Brade and DJ Munja

The third evening brought another blend of generations.

After Boogie, the programme included CYA and Brade, and they were accompanied by DJ Munja.

For the audience that hasn't followed domestic hip-hop since yesterday, it didn't take much introduction. CYA and Lightning belong to a generation that participated in laying the foundations of the regional scene long before hip-hop got its own stage at major festivals.

Hip-hop didn't just stay on Hip-Hop Stage

Perhaps the most important thing about this year's Nisville from our point of view is that hip-hop was not closed in its few hours of programming.

The main stage featured Afro Gitano, a project made up of Tony Kitanovski, Baba Sissoko and DJ Goce. African rhythms, guitar, percussion and DJ coming straight from hip-hop culture found themselves in the official Main Stage program between Bend–It! Orchestra and Kyoto Jazz Massive.

And this is perhaps the best indicator of where Nisville and hip-hop actually meet.

Not in an attempt to become one another, but where the gramophone is treated as an instrument, where jazz is sampled, where the live drum is mixed with the bit and where the DJ can stand equally on stage with the guitarist and percussionist.

Hip-Hop Stage is part of Nisville

When Nišville first launched Hip-Hop Stage in 2019, the idea was to create a space for performers who connect rap with jazz, funk, soul, rock and related directions. At that time, Eric Bobo from Cypress Hill, TBF, Ajs Nigrutin and Timbe, Stereo Banana and Marcello with Napeti Quintet performed on the first set, among others.

Seven years later, there's no need to explain what hip-hop is doing in Nisville.

This year, on three evenings on the same stage, we had Mikri with his leg in a cast, Raid Kyu with a live band, Nemus opening a new chapter, CYA, Brade, DJ Munja, Sunrise, Boogie, Jahmesenjah Sound and Mister T.

And a few hundred meters away, DJ Goce was on the main stage.

Hip-hop in Nisville is no longer a guest.