Chuck D, KRS-One, Jungle Brothers, Prince Paul, more playing free NYC block parties this weekend
Today (8/11) marks the 50th anniversary of hip hop, and in addition to the big Hip Hop 50 Live show at Yankee Stadium tonight, there are free block parties and events happening throughout the weekend in Staten Island, The Bronx, and Harlem, presented in partnership with ITSALLBLACKMUSIC PRESENTS. Today’s, which honors Wu-Tang Clan, is at Castleton Ave & Davis Ave in Staten Island, with guest performances from KRS-One, Jungle Brothers, Nems, Dres (Black Sheep), and more, and beats from Red Alert, Prince Paul, Drewski, Statik Selektah, and Evil Dee.
Saturday’s (8/12) block party honors DJ Kool Herc at 1520 Sedgwick Ave in The Bronx, with performances from Kid Capri, Grandmaster Cas, Talib Kweli, Chuck D, KRS-One, and more. Sunday’s (8/13) happens right outside Apollo Theater, at 125th St & Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem, honoring Cam’ron with performances by Dres, Jungle Brothers, Da Bush Babees, Fu-Schnickens, and more, and beats from Red Alert, Prince Paul, Ron G, SnS, Ted Smooth, and Beverly Bond.
All three 5×5 Block Parties run from 3 PM-9:30 PM and will also feature art installations, food vendors, drone light shows created in collaboration with Pixis Drones, and more. Find more details here.
Cam’ron is also being honored with a limited edition MetroCard, available at various stations in the Harlem/125 St area.