Elements Festival attendees accuse headliners of stealing slots from smaller artists

Several Elements Festival attendees have taken to social media to accuse artists including Tape B of stealing slots from smaller artists at a secret set.

The allegations originated on X with some from users and another from a DJ following Elements Festival last weekend. One accusation came from a user who had claimed that Tape B and his team were stealing slots from smaller artists who did not want to be named. Tape B responded directly to the post to give his side of the story, explaining that the schedule was shifted because the first day had been cut short. 

Tape B elaborated by saying he had pre-planned a solo set and back-to-back with Disco Lines before playing at 3 am per the festival’s request. The original poster stated he received a direct tip from the smaller artist who had been pushed out. The claims did not stop there – though – when DJ RAfeeki posted his experience at Elements. 

RAfeeki had stated that he was pushed off stage by a bigger artist about 20 minutes into his set. He wrote that the artists thanked him for filling in when his set had been on the official lineup. He was met with support from the community and other artists. 

After deleting the original post, he made another statement saying his intention was not to cause controversy. Instead, he was hoping to bring attention to “a topic that is often glossed over” with the best of intentions. He also clarified that it was not Tape B that he was referring to. 

Both instances sparked discussion on smaller artists being overshadowed by bigger producers. Almost everyone involved agreed that the circumstances were something that they would not stand for. In his reply, Tape B wrote that he “would never try to f**k anyone over, especially smaller artists.”

The commentary slowed down following the initial accusations. Tape B replied to a few comments and RAfeeki deleted his initial thread. Since then, more of the community has called for increased support towards up-and-coming artists and love towards those who have gone through that experience.

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About The Author

Madison Duncan

Hi! My name is Madison and I was born and raised in Colorado, giving me immediate access to some of the best live music. I have two degrees from the University of Denver in Media Studies and Criminology and am passionate about music journalism. Some of my favorite artists are, but not limited to, Disco Lines, Tape B, Space Laces, and Whyte Fang.

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