Dell-P’s homegrown hip hop fest for the West
This fall, a standout new music event brought West Philly to The Lawn with purpose. The Good Jawn Music Festival, created by Grammy-nominated independent artist Dell-P, landed in the neighborhood with a clear message: Philly deserves a moment that’s truly ours.
And on that cool, crisp October afternoon, in a section once known as Down Bottom, you could feel something real in the air. Joy. Family. Creative enterprise. A city showing up for itself.
“We Deserve This.”
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When I asked Dell-P why he stepped up to create a festival “for Philly, by Philly,” he didn’t even pause. “As an independent artist I felt like it was time that we have a yearly festival that represents our city to the fullest,” he said. “I have always lived by the phrase ‘be the change that you wanna see’… Philadelphia has the dopest artists in the world and I’m gonna do everything in my power to make sure that it’s known.”
If you know Dell-P, he really does live that. This festival wasn’t about ego — his or anyone else’s. It was about home. Togetherness. Community pride. About having a stage big enough to fit everyone that’s been lifting each other up all these years.
This was no one-man show! A whole village turned out, bringing their best.
From WordSmith Entertainment and Two Locals Brewing to Jazz On The Ave, Lyrically Fit, The Hip Hop Foundation, Artists First Inc., Uptown Radio 98.5 FM, and more — sponsors, DJs, hosts, vendors, and organizers came together to make this happen.
This is something Philly does better than any city I’ve ever seen: when we believe in something, we build around it. And when enough people decide something matters, it starts to take shape in a real way — slowly, steadily, from the ground up. That’s been happening around Dell-P for years, long before this festival ever hit the stage.
Laying the Groundwork
Before The Good Jawn had a name, it had a heartbeat: The WordSmith Experience, Dell-P’s monthly showcase Upstairs at Khyber Pass Pub where local artists come to spit with intention. For years, that room has been a proving ground — a place where talent sharpens talent, where artists both push and support each other.
“Building this platform has allowed me to highlight other aspiring Hip-Hop artists who have great messages that deserve to be heard,” he told me. So when it came time to build The Good Jawn’s lineup, Dell-P already knew exactly who he wanted beside him. The festival became a chance to shine a light on the people who’ve been putting in real work all year, the ones who pour into the craft and into the community for the love of it.
And it was more than music, too. The Good Jawn opened the door for vendors, visual artists, makers, and neighborhood entrepreneurs — giving everybody a chance to be seen.
The festival brought out everybody: friends, families, youth, creatives, and OGs who’ve been holding down their block through waves of reinvention. West Philly’s seen a lot of change, but the people? They still bring that special energy you only get on this side of the river. Folks came for the show, but also to simply enjoy a nice day with their neighbors.
The Lawn made it easy. Black-owned vendors set up along the paths with food, art, jewelry, clothes — a little bit of everything. DJs Waxspinner and Greg Nice kept the music going while people moved from table to table, talking, laughing, browsing. Even with the glass towers rising around us, the space felt open, organic, and welcoming.
Brotherhood on Full Display
I wasn’t the only one feeling the glow. When I ran into Revive Radio’s P.O.C., she was struck by the same thing — the warmth, the unity, and especially the way the men showed up for each other. As she put it, “Seeing Black men smiling and celebrating each other was powerful. It felt like bringing that true brotherly love back to the Westside.”
If you’ve lived in Philly long enough, you know moments like that don’t happen every day. Seeing that many Black men onstage together — not competing, not posturing, just sharing real support with hugs, daps, and pure love — hit different. It was the kind of healing you don’t always expect to find at a festival, but everyone there could feel it.
Hip-Hop in its Purest Form
When I asked Dell-P how this festival fits into the larger Hip-Hop landscape, he brought it back to basics. “The Good Jawn Music Festival gives the city a breath of fresh air. We represent Hip Hop in its purest form,” he said.
His satisfaction comes from giving shine to the talents he’s watched grow all year: so many voices with their own style and message. This festival gave those names a bigger stage, amplifying their gifts to the greater community. As Dell-P put it, “Seeing artists that I believe in getting to perform in front of their family and friends is a priceless feeling.”
And that’s the heart of The Good Jawn — giving Philly artists a real moment to be seen and celebrated. And Dell-P isn’t stopping here. The next festival has already been locked in for 2026! ✅📅Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 22nd at the same spot, with plans to make The Good Jawn a yearly tradition at The Lawn.
A Word for the Dreamers
Before we wrapped, Dell-P offered a message for local creatives. “Stay the course and be willing to invest in yourself,” he said. “And don’t rush your progress — trust the process.” It was a reminder that even though inspiration often starts quietly, the real magic happens when you share your work with others and let the community around you help it grow.
Thanks to Dell-P — and everybody who came out — The Good Jawn is officially part of the city’s heartbeat now.
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⭐ Who Is Dell-P? Dell-P is a West Philly Hip-Hop artist who’s been holding it down for years — respected for his pen, his presence, and the way he shows up for his community. He’s got Grammy nominations under his belt, but if you ask him, the real wins come from shining light on the artists coming up behind him.
He’s the mind behind The WordSmith Experience, a showcase that’s become a home base for positive, purposeful Hip-Hop in the city. And now with The Good Jawn Music Festival, he’s taking that same spirit and giving it a bigger stage. Around here, Dell-P is known as someone who loves Philly loud and lifts people as he climbs. Follow Dell-P @delp215 on all platforms.
🌳🏙️ THE LAWN at uCity Square
37th & Cuthbert St., University City
ucitysquare.com/property/the-lawn • @uCitySquare
A playful outdoor venue with real grass, food trucks, movies, music, and community pop-ups. Free and open to the public when events are not in session.
What do you think? Hit the links, drop a comment, tell me what stood out — I love hearing from you. And if you’re still in a festival mood, check out my last Local feature on my favorite summer fests of 2025
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