City of Brotherly Groove

The 2nd annual Hip Hop in the Park was the summer’s feel-good festival! Local superfan Kennedie Scurry tells all.  

Yo Philly!!! We did a thing y’all. We took over The Oval with my Festival “HIP-HOP In The Park” celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop. I am so humbled and grateful at how you all showed up! A few thousand in attendance throughout the day. 🤯🤯🤯 A year of planning and we did it y’all!!!! No fights, no issues all peace, unity and love!  — @TameArtz

This past August 11th, we celebrated the 50th birthday of Hip Hop at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, honoring icons and legends as well as local artists who keep this powerful music alive today. Hip Hop was born in 1973 when DJ Kool Herc created break beats on his turn tables at a neighborhood block party in the Bronx. The rest, they say, is history!

My first memory of Hip Hop, I was maybe 5 or 6, and my father would play Notorious B.I.G. for me every morning before school. I thought all the songs were great, but I always requested “Story to Tell” because to me that was the best one. Then when I was a little older, my mom played A Tribe Called Quest’s “Bonita Applebum” in the car one day. I fell in love with Hip Hop and never stopped listening to it.

This year was my second time at Hip Hop in the Park, and I’m still amazed by the turn out. I danced and rapped until I wiped myself out. Tame Artz surely knows how to bring the community together through talent, art and music.

So many gifted DJs! Everyone had their individual style of mixing, mastering and bringing the audience together like it was the greatest basement party of the year. We had some true greats on the stage: DJ Nash, Brotha Taaj, DJ Too Tuff, Oluwafemi, Rebel Foster, Nick Caceres, and Austin Horton. I was focused on each of them to hear what songs they would play and they all had me in a chokehold.

Each DJ, played music that we haven’t heard and many more we have heard. One of my biggest moments was Harlem Shaking and hearing some of my favorite songs such as “Luchini – This Is It” by Camp Lo and “Music” (feat. Marvin Gaye) by Eric Sermon of EPMD. While each DJ had the park dancing and rapping, break dancers were tearing up the middle of the park, like a scene from the early 1980s.

On one side of the park, families with kids played with giant checkers and chess pieces. Across from that, artists were live painting vibrant, colorful works that both reflected and added to the positive energy all around. (images here featured by Bill Strobel and V. Vega)

Behind the crowd, Milk Boy’s bar was a chill oasis, serving adult beverages by a welcoming lounge area, where attendees of all ages kicked back, conversed, bonded and enjoyed the show with food from one of several on-site vendors. I for sure took advantage of this space to relax with my friends, returning here often to recharge after singing and dancing. In between, I had the chance to sit down with P.O.C. of Revive Media to talk about the concert and also my love for Hip Hop and Journalism. We had a beautiful conversation that left with me filled with love and gratitude!

Next, Tame brought out a dope artist named Reef aka “the Sound of Philadelphia” — he definitely proved his name with his old school style that took me back to the days when rappers didn’t mind getting gritty and rough on the mic. Reef had the audience laughing and really listening for the next bar to come out his mouth that would have us rewinding his lines in our mind.

After Reef, of course there was a cypher, and I’m always curious to see who will participate. I was rewarded with the most satisfying show! Every person who spit, did their “big one” as the kids say. Seeing Quon of Thinker Makers and Tsunami of The Kilowatt House was a monumental moment for me. I was truly touched to see these gentle giants stepping up to the plate to inspire the community. They were astounding.

Speaking of incredible performances, I was so glad I didn’t miss DJ Too Tuff of Tuff Crew! The group performed their famous song “My Part of Town” and that was one of the best experiences I needed, to rap every bar and be sure to record them for my mom as she is STILL their biggest fan. 🔥🔥🔥

Next, Peedi Crakk took the stage. Everybody came up close to watch him perform all the verses we grew up on: “Gotta Have It” by Beanie Sigel, “Stay” by Ne-Yo and “Flipside” by Freeway.

As the sun came down, the audience was still grooving to the sounds of Hip Hop. Tame Artz did another great job with putting together something amazing that the city can enjoy. Thank you again for what you do for our community!

#PraiseGodandStayHumble💯 Hit the playlist below for the songs featured in this article.

This article was originally published on The Kenlo Show’s website, where you’ll find lots more great pics and additional commentary. Don’t miss her videos, interviews, and reviews on youtube!