BUKU Music + Art Project will liven up New Orleans again this weekend on March 11 and 12. The festival exudes party vibes and features hip-hop, rock and EDM on six different stages: Power Plant, Float Den, Ballroom, Back Alley, VIP S.S. BUKU and Front Yard.
There are 63 total acts, but 10 of those will perform on the VIP stage only. Those with tickets are in for a treat with some big names performing, but will also be able to experience some lesser known bands. Here is a cheat sheet for the hits and misses of the lineup.
HITS:
Fetty Wap: Fetty Wap rose to fame in 2015 following the release of his breakout single “Trap Queen.” He went on to release the top 40 singles “My Way,” “Again” and “679.” His self-titled album, “Fetty Wap,” released in September 2015, reached number-one on the Billboard 200 chart.
He has matched Billboard records set by both Eminem and Lil Wayne. He received two nominations at the 58th Grammy Awards and has won a MC100 Award, an MTV Video Music Award and a BET Hip Hop Award.
Fetty Wap is a hot new artist on the rise and will perform Friday from 8:15 to 9:15 p.m. on the Float Den stage.
Kid Cudi: Kid Cudi first received major recognition in 2008 after releasing his mixtape, “A Kid Named Cudi.” Kanye West noticed Cudi and signed him to his GOOD Music label. He has released five studio albums as a solo artist.
He reached the top five on the Billboard charts with his debut single “Day ’n’ Nite.” Kid Cudi has sold more than 5.2 million digital singles. He has won a Beatport Music Award, two Grammys and an Urban Music Award.
Kid Cudi brings music to new heights and allows his listeners to really get to know him. He is set to perform Friday, shortly after Fetty Wap, from 9:45 to 11 p.m. on the Power Plant stage.
Future: Future released a series of mixtapes in 2010 and 2011, garnering a label deal with Epic Records and A1 Recordings. His debut album “Pluto” earned five spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His third album, “DS2” earned a number-one placement on the Billboard 200, a career first for him. “What a Time to Be Alive,” a collaborative mixtape with Drake released in 2015, was Future’s second number-one album.
This year, he became the fastest artist to chart three number-one albums on the Billboard 200. Future has won a BET Hip Hop Award and a Much Music Video Award.
Future, a versatile artist, captivates audiences with catchy hooks and melodies. He will perform Saturday from 6 to 7 p.m. on the Power Plant stage.
MISSES:
KTRL.: The bass house duo with roots in both New Orleans and Chicago were stuck in a bad time slot. This time slot is the first of the day and will be on the local collective stage, where they won’t receive as much attention as they would have in another area.
KTRL. seriously lacks a social media presence, and it’s unlikely BUKU will drastically heighten their fame. If they were given a later performance time, their chances would have been better.
They will be performing from 3 to 3:45 p.m. on Friday on the Back Alley stage.
What So Not: Unlike the other acts, What So Not lacks a biography and track listings on the BUKU app. His profile isn’t even linked to a SoundCloud account. He has previously worked with Major Lazer and has gone on an Australian tour. He released his latest EP in December 2015, but appears to have a much larger following in Australia than he will at BUKU.
What So Not will perform on the Float Den stage Saturday from 5-6:15 p.m.

Tristan Dufrene: As a local artist, she will not receive much attention outside that of Louisiana residents. She is on the rise, but has mainly performed only in music venues and parties in New Orleans. Dufrene has less than 70 followers on SoundCloud.
She will be performing Friday from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. on the Back Alley stage.