WTF DID YOU MISS: CLUB HIP HOP 50
If you are either a New Yorker, a Bronx native, and/or a hip hop head then you were definitely outside during the month of August. August 11th, as we all know, is the day of the fiftieth anniversary of hip hop culture. This year’s month of the fiftieth will go down in history as one of hip hop’s greatest times in New York and hip hop history. Besides the fact that The Bronx is the birthplace of hip hop, the entire state of New York and its boroughs coming together to celebrate hip hop culture is an unforgettable time. So many fiftieth celebration events happening back to back, it feels like one big party and/or club exclusively for all those who are part of the culture. Everyone who’s an artist, to bloggers, writers, interviewers, hosts, there was a space for those specifically involved in the culture to get outside, participate, and come together for the culture. All of the four elements: dee jayin’, emceeing, breakdancing, and graffiti, that make up hip hop culture were also fully present at these celebration events. Lots of great performances from our favorite hip hop artists and DJ’s are more in demand, people are showing up and dressing up in their freshest and best outfits and they’re coming out to dance and have a great time. All throughout the month of August, there’s been non stop celebration events happening in The Bronx. Summerstage’s Grandmaster Flash and Friends, The Mill Pond Park celebration, The Yankee Stadium, and most of all the Sedgwick Avenue celebration. On August 4th, 2023, Grandmaster Flash was the star of the show in Crotona Park for Summerstage; Also called the “Birth of a Culture: The 4 Elements Block Party.” He and a couple of other DJ’s including Pete Rock and DJ Chuck Chillout, put on an amazing four hour show that definitely showcased and celebrated the four elements. The show ended with an incredible line up of MC’s who rocked the mic; MC Sha Rock, KRS-One, Melle Mel, and incredible breakdancers who also showed out. On the day of August 11th, the actual day of hip hop’s fiftieth, The Mill Pond Park celebration happened and was the pre show for those who also attended the Yankee Stadium show. Mill Pond Park is on Exterior Street on 150th Street, in The Bronx, close by where the future first hip hop museum will be located. DJ Kevie Kev Rockwell on the music, MC Sha Rock hosting and performances by MC Shan, Milk Dee of Audio Two, Sweet Tee, Peter Gunz, Public Enemy, and more, just to name a few. Hit after hit, classic after classic, the people are clapping their hands, rapping along to the words, and making sure to capture every moment of classic hip hop bliss with their camera phones to savor the moments later on. The celebration continues that day at Yankee Stadium. Lots of people outside of the stadium selling t-shirts, artists rapping out loud to promote their own music, hanging out, and having a great time. Inside of the stadium, it is complete pandemonium. It is the world’s greatest hip hop show happening on the planet. Way more artists from all eras and decades of hip hop are on the stage. The stadium is completely crowded with people all over the place walking around, buying their food and beverages, sticking with their closed loved ones and even running into other loved ones, seats are filled, people are hanging out in the lanes between sections trying to get their way closer to the stage as possible and there’s a huge uproar from the stadium’s reaction to whoever’s on the stage coming from all sides of the stadium. Then there’s August 12th, 2023. The world return’s to the actual and birthplace of hip hop; 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. KRS-One is being followed around in admiration as he is in his element being “The Teacha.” There are food trucks, vendors, graffiti artists, DJ’s, surprise guests and artists, breakdancers, bloggers, interviewers, photographers, grassroots hip hop organizations in attendance and best of all, a stage further up past the 1520 building set for a huge showcase. Upcoming artists and legendary artists both attend the stage. Again, hit after hit, song for song, word for word, the world has attended yet another huge hip hop show and event on the planet. It was the ultimate hip hop show of the year and what better way to celebrate than at 1520. Fat Joe, CL Smooth, Mad Lion, Talib Kweli, Poor Righteous Teachers, Mr. Cheeks, Cold Crush Brothers, The Sugarhill Gang, Public Enemy and more. Anybody that claimed to be a lover of hip hop, a hip hop head, and part of the culture, you were supposed to be there or any of the fiftieth anniversary celebrations. August 2023 was easily the greatest year in hip hop in recent years. So much celebrating, so much fun. If you truly are a lover of the culture, you were granted your wristband or stamp to enter the club called HIP HOP 50.
Yesterday was definitely the most uplifting, inspiring and most powerful experiences I’ve ever had in my life. There was a “Stop the Violence” protest march that happened on Hunts Point and ended p on Longwood Avenue in front of the 41st Precinct. My friend tagged me on the post about it the days before it happened and I was honestly the most terrified I have ever been in my life. I was feeling so terrified about the march at first because these crooked ass cops out here are really no joke when it comes to their guns and of course, I thought of the worst case scenario but of course I was completely wrong and it’s just like what they say – what you’re mostly afraid of can possibly change your life if you be more open minded and that’s exactly what happened. The march started at 4 but of course, I didn’t leave my house until 5 because it takes me a while to get ready but anyways, I walked all the way to Hunts Point with an open mind, a half frozen bottle of water, and a positive and fearless attitude. I finally get to Hunts Point and I see a crowd of people standing around with picket signs, camera people and a couple of NYPD vans. I finally caught up with the crowd and see a couple of my homies in the crowd, including my close friend who told me about the march in the first place and another good friend from high school too. We embrace one another, ask each other how we’ve been and stuff and of course as usual, everybody is good and then we continue walking. As we’re walking we’re chanting “What do we want!? JUSTICE! When do we want it!? NOW!” and “If your mama don’t get it!? SHUT IT DOWN!” and all other kinds of chants that was led by this powerful guy who goes by the name of Rodstarz whose one 
half of the political conscious and raw hip hop group hailed from Chicago named Rebel Diaz. I knew these guys about 4 or 5 years now and they’re always active in their communities by spreading knowledge and positivity through hip hop shows and protests like this one. To be around these guys is always a pleasure because I someday hope to be a hip hop artist just like them. Their brave and bold spirit to attack issues in our communities without any apologies is always so amazing to me. We ended up at the 41st precinct on Longwood Avenue, right up the street from the 6 train station and the BX19 bus stop. Rod is on the mic still preaching in front of the cops who happened to be standing around outside the precinct about what kind of injustices are going on around the world and what kind of impact they’re having on both Black and Latin communities all over America. He continued by having everyone grieve the ones who were wrongfully murdered by police brutality, calling out their names, saying “I can’t breathe!” 11 times in honor of Eric Gardner, and then after all that, they played both classic hip hop records “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy and “Sound of Da Police” by KRS-One out loud on this huge speaker. The march was pretty much over and everyone went their separate ways but when I left with 2 of my high school friends, we spent the rest of the day just talking about the march and reflecting on it. I have never felt so empowered in my life. It gave me a totally different and larger perspective on things and it even gave me creative ideas for music and image way in the future when it comes my time to finally make music. I could definitely use that experience and the social injustices that’s going on in America in my music someday, just like Kendrick Lamar, Public Enemy, KRS-One, Beyoncé and even the X-Clan.