Crotona Park Jams: Tools of War 2017
Every year for the past 15 years, a hip hop park jam called “Tools of War” have been happening all throughout the boroughs here in New York. A park jam that’s dedicated to having fun, togetherness, peace and unity and of course celebrates the early days of hip hop culture. Driven with the same energy and compassion as it did back then, Tools of War has an absolute no recording policy, just like back in the day. It’s just you and your memory. No evidence, more about having fun and creating memories without having to capture every moment for social media these days. Always and forever hosted by the legendary Grandmaster Caz of the hip hop group The Cold Crush Brothers and known as hip hop’s very first rapper/DJ. As a Bronx native myself, I’ve been living in the same area for almost the same time that Tools of War has been around but didn’t find out until 2 years ago. Of course, as a heavy hip hop fan, I was absolutely amazed and excited about it when I attended my first Tools of War event. The experience is something I thought I would never get to have but that’s why I’m extremely grateful to grow up in a place where it all started. It reminds me that I am hip hop, even before I knew I was. How dope is it do you get to normally see and meet hip hop heavyweights and legends in your own neighborhood, 2 minutes away from where your apartment building. It’s not everyday someone like me gets that experience. Most people only get that on a lucky day doing downtown shopping and walking around or actually paying money to go to a show but I’ve met most of them right here in my own hood, Crotona Park. Besides Grandmaster Caz, Popmaster Fabel and his wife Christie Z-Pabon, Jazzy Jay, Lord Finesse, Kool DJ Red Alert, Jazzy Joyce, DJ Scratch are just a couple of legends I’ve seen and/or met and then there are guest DJ’s who come out from other parts of town to spin early classic hip hop joints and samples from the 1970’s and 80’s. Sometimes the 90’s, depending on the DJ. Then there are the breakdancers who come around in a large group, the photographers, and of course, the people. We dance, laugh, take pictures, enjoy the music, and have a good time from 4 to 8 in the evening. When Tools of War comes to Crotona Park, they only have it every Thursdays in July. For four hours, it’s a non stop party from back then in the future. To see so many OG’s come together to relive their youthful days puts a smile on my face. There’s a certain level of fun and nostalgia they have, the smiles of their faces, it’s really nice for them to enjoy. It’s because of Tools of War that me and two friends of mine have decided to name ourselves The “Tools of War Brothers” because of our love for the culture. Hip hop brought us together and made us into something that we’ll remember when we’re like the OG’s. The power of hip hop does something to the community that’s amazing and it’s something in the ghetto we all need to forget about our problems in life and remember why we’re still here living and breathing. I’m glad to be an original Bronx Boy of my generation, aka B-Boy. The Bronx keeps creating it!
This years “Tools of War” events that took place in my neighborhood in Crotona Park were really on another level to me compared to last year’s that I went to. For those who don’t know what “Tools of War” is, it’s a hip hop park jam event where people from all over New York or the world come to enjoy good music, including classic hip hop, soul music, funk music and even house music, the kinda house music they played at hip hop parties back in the 1970’s and 80’s. A lot of people always come to these events because it gives people a sense of nostalgia and it’s a lot of fun. For me, being at “Tools of War” is like living a world like it’s the 70’s, 80’s again, sometimes the 90’s, depending on the DJ. So many people in the community come together with their chairs, water bottles and drinks and they sit or stand up to dance along to the music, people come through their freshest hip hop gear on like Kangol hats, Adidas, Pumas, Nikes, Reeboks, Clarks, gold rope chains, or anything that’s fashionable in hip hop. Breakdancers from all over New York or the world come through to show off their skills and hype up each other with their fresh gear too. There are camera men everywhere taking pics of the event of everything that’s going on including the people with their fresh gear on and dancing and having a good time and then handing out flyers to help promote themselves, just in case anyone wants to hire them for events. Grandmaster Caz, whose a hip hop legend, MC’s the event, he’s selling hip hop t-shirts, he’s calling out the raffle ticket winners at the end of the event and gives out prizes to the winners while his grandson Cazmere walks around the park handing out prizes and collecting the tickets. Then there’s the very nice and cool Christine Z-Pabon. Christine is the wife of legendary hip hop breakdancer, b-boy and master pop locker, Popmaster Fabel. She walks around the park making sure things are alright, handling business, and I believe she helps to make “Tools of War” happen. I actually spoke to her for the first time yesterday when I ran into my friend Damian and we both had a really cool but short conversation about the state of hip hop culture today, how the community can come together to collaborate to keep our streets and communities a much safer place for the youth and of course “Tools of War.” The best part about “Tools of War” are the hip hop legendary artists and DJ‘s who come by to show love and actually DJ for everyone. It’s the greatest thing in the world to me because I don’t have to pay a penny or travel far to see these kinda things happening; it’s right up the street from my building. Last week and yesterday, it was Kool DJ Red Alert, DJ Scratch, Lord Finesse and I happen to see of course, the father of hip hop himself, DJ Kool Herc and L.A. Sunshine from the legendary hip hop group Treacherous Three, who came by and show love too. Of course I forget about DJ Jazzy Jay and DJ Johnny Juice, they definitely did their thing too. I was very happy when I got my pictures taken with DJ Scratch last week and Lord Finesse yesterday. These men were very cool and I went home at the end feeling very inspired and happy to have meet more hip hop legends. Yesterday, I happen to notice someone else too, this guy was very popular amongst my generation because of the “Get Lite” movement 10 years ago. It was Mr. Voice of Harlem himself. I asked if it was really him and he said that it was, I got my pic with him and then he told me to tag him on Instagram and that’s how my night after “Tools of War” ended. So much can happen in 4 hours in my own neighborhood more than anywhere else to me. I’m just grateful to be able to witness hip hop greatness for the past 2 years like that, even though “Tools of War” been happening for 14 years. Of course they do it all over New York but I only attend the ones in my neighborhood in July every Thursday. I can’t wait for next year….