The annual A3C Hip-Hop Festival has been taking place in Atlanta since Wednesday (October 5) of this week. The yearly event has been the host to a number of panels and showcases and has been a veritable who’s who in terms of talent and executives that drive the culture.

One of the key themes this year is a tribute to 1996. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the banner year many of the legends who had key releases are taking the stage, including Bun B, Too Short and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. The showcase has been hosted by Ed Lover, and also featured a killer DJ set by Kid Capri.

Redman Keeps It All The Way Real On “Wus Really Hood” (Video)

One of the essential releases of 1996 belonged to Redman, with his Muddy Waters album. The Newark, NJ MC took the stage and brought the same energy for which he has been known for more than 25 years and, in typical Reggie Noble fashion he would not allow himself to be put in a box. Rather than being confined to one year, he reached into his bag of tricks and pulled out a number of hits from multiple periods. In fact, he did not do a single song from 1996. He did keep it strictly 90s though, as he peeled off hit after hit after hit.

Red went all the way back, reeling off “Time 4 Sum Aksion” and “Tonight’s Da Night,” from Whut? Thee Album. He also did later material like his verse from LL Cool J’s “4,3,2,1” and “Da Rockwilder,” his killer collabo with Method Man. Songs like “I’ll Bee Dat,” also got their shine. And, Redman’s story would not be complete without Erick Sermon and Keith Murray, so, of course, he brought out his Def Squad brothers.

EPMD Take Care Of Business At The Roots Picnic In New York (Video)

Sermon performed bits from EPMD’s “It’s My Thang” and his solo single, “Music,” while Murray did a rousing rendition of “The Most Beautifullest Thing In This World,” that was as animated as it’s ever been. Time has been good to the MCs, as each looked and sounded great.