Hip hop was born on August 11, 1973, started by DJ Kool Herc at a block party in the heart of the Bronx. There are so many free events to celebrate this week in NYC!
THE BRONX
· FRI AUG 11: Universal Hip Hop Museum 50th Birthday Jam Block Party 12-6pm (Mill Pond Park, Bronx NY) with music, food, drinks, live graffiti, a rap showcase and an open cypher
· SAT AUG 12: 5x5 Block Party (1520 Segwick Avenue) 3-9:30pm honoring DJ Kool Herc with performances, street-art installations, food vendors, educational talks & more
MANHATTAN
· TUES AUG 8 – SAT AUG 12: Hip-Hop Series at Park Lane New York with vinyl-only DJ performances each night on the Hello Darling rooftop (sets start at 9pm besides Wednesday at 6pm). There will also be a Hennessy tasting session and merchandise giveaway on Thursday (36 Central Park South)
· WED AUG 9 – SAT AUG 12: Hip Hop Week at Lincoln Center: 10+ performances, silent discos, dance classes & more, including a performance by Rakim and a silent disco with DJ FLY TY
· THROUGH AUG 16: New York Public Library: Get a free hip-hop themed library card from any NYPL branch and check out the schedule for a bunch of hip hop events (including hip-hop trivia, Beat Street screening, graffiti photography)
BROOKLYN
· FRI-SAT AUG 11-12: BRIC Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary Weekend featuring performances by Digable Planets, Kari Faux, Wiki, Donwill, and Quinnette; a screening of the movie Brown Sugar; Hip-Hop games and talks each night (Lena Horne Bandshell, Prospect Park) starting 6pm
· SUN AUG 13: Summerstage Funk Flex & Friends birthday concert with Raheem Devaughn, Rob Base & more (Coney Island Amphitheater), 6-9pm (doors at 5pm)
· ALL MONTH: The Book of HOV at Brooklyn Public Library (10 Grand Army Plaza): an exhibition celebrating the life and work of JAY-Z. Make sure to get a free JAY-Z library card!
QUEENS
· THURS AUG 10: Wu-Tang Clan “For The Love” performance (Knockdown Center), doors open at 8pm (must RSVP but event is first come first serve, 21+)
STATEN ISLAND
· FRI AUG 11: 5x5 Block Party (Castleton Avenue & Davis Avenue) 3-9:30pm honoring Wu-Tang Clan with performances, street-art installations, food vendors, educational talks & more
· SAT AUG 12: SummerStage concert with Frankie Cutlass, The Original Cover Girls, Black Sheep Dres (Stapleton Waterfront Park) 5-9pm