What a way to kick off City Arts Fest: with a stacked lineup of local hip-hop acts, taking over a place usually dedicated to traveling Broadway shows. If anyone doubted the strength of hip hop in Seattle, all they had to do was see the mob of teens filling Paramount Theatre last night—many of them sticking it out for five hours’ worth of beats by Mash Hall, Fresh Espresso, Macklemore with DJ Ryan Lewis, and Seattle hip-hop royalty Blue Scholars (with special guest Brother Ali from Minneapolis). Though Blue Scholars headlined, Macklemore impressed—we’re going to keep an eye on him (not in a creepy way, though).

Check out Anne Dixon’s slideshow (left) of scenes from City Arts Fest’s hip-hop night at the Paramount, October 20.