A Citywide Celebration of Hip Hop, Culture, and Ten Years of Chreece Energy
Words by Avery Martin; Photos provided by Chreece
On the night of August 23rd, Indianapolis came alive to celebrate two things; Naptown and Hip Hop. The city lit up with energy, as artists and lovers of art from all ages and backgrounds filled the streets, and echoed their sound through every neighborhood. The night was a vibrant celebration of community, culture, and creativity.
Seven different venues around the city hosted more than 70 artists to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hip Hop festival Chreece aka “The Superbowl of Indianapolis Hip Hop”. It was truly a citywide takeover.
Oreo Jones, founder of Chreece, started the festival in 2015 with the vision of bringing a bigger platform to local hip hop artists in the community. Now, a decade later that vision is growing and further expanding opportunities in the creative economy.
“I really didn’t have any expectations or anything, I just wanted to provide a platform for artists, especially rappers, producers, and DJs that really didn’t have that much space here in the city” Jones said.
Jones is backed by his main team of collaborators —Jane Sun Kim keeps the festival running smoothly, and Jay Brookens works with the talent as the artist director. Add in a crew of dedicated volunteers and a crowd of passionate fans, and the magic of Chreece comes to life.
Artists, sponsors, small businesses, photographers, and volunteers poured their hearts into making this an unforgettable night. Whole neighborhoods came through to sell out the festival for the first time since 2019, and everyone was dancing.
“I think my favorite part is during the day, it’s just the energy, it's magnetic. It’s just like a really big family reunion.” Jones said.
This year’s lineup went way beyond the local scene, pulling in serious national talent like Smino, Audrey Nuna, MAVI, and 81355 (pronounced ‘bless’)—the powerhouse group featuring none other than Oreo Jones himself.
Behind the scenes, organizations like Indy Arts Council, GANGGANG, and Big Car Collaborative helped bring the event to reality, further supporting the dreamers, doers, and artists that give Naptown a heartbeat.
Part of the event’s mission to give back, the DJ Indiana Jones Scholarship was created as a tribute to an Indiana legend, Ron Miner (DJ Indiana Jones). Born and raised in Indiana, DJ Indiana Jones made a name for himself in the New York City music scene before returning to his roots to uplift the local Hip Hop community.
He wasn’t just a supporter of Chreece in its early days, he was a driving force behind its growth and success. This scholarship honors his legacy by continuing his work: supporting the next generation and investing in the culture he loved.
At the end of the night, it was clear that this wasn’t just another music festival. Chreece has become something way bigger. It’s a love letter to Naptown—loud and proud.
Ten years in, and the vision that started in 2015 is now an anticipated event in the city. It’s in the beats, the bars, the murals, the merch tables, and the people packed into venues. It’s in the way strangers danced like friends, and neighborhoods came together like family.
If this year was any sign of what’s next, it’s only getting louder, bigger, and more powerful from here. Here’s to a decade of Chreece, and everything that is still to come.
