Bronx, NY–The eleventh annual Hip Hop Fever showcase was a triumphant success at the astounding Lehman Center for the Performing Arts Saturday evening as some of Hip Hop’s most legendary artists came out to commemorate a highly profound milestone.
Hosted by Fever Records founder Sal Abbatiello and Video Music Box originator Ralph McDaniels, this year’s celebration was a memorable one paying tribute to the fiftieth year anniversary of the robustious music genre. A golden journey filled with an array of collective storytellers reciting life’s experiences through the eyes of their environment.
Commencing the festivities was Def Squad’s own Keith Murray banging out to classics “The Rhyme” off 1996’s Enigma and certified Gold hit smash “The Most Beautifulliest Thing In This World” from his 1994 debut album named after the hot chart topper. Hyping up the entire house full blown Murray style, the lyrically ebullient rapper had the crowd out their seats chanting bars to the throwback monster jam.
Next up on the mic was lead lyricist Dres of Native Tongue’s Progressive Rap sensation Black Sheep slaying fire tracks “Flavor Of The Month” and “The Choice Is Yours” off their 1991 Gold debut album A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing taking fans back to the old school days of Bennetton gear, “The Wop” and big chunk jewelry flossing those savory candy ring pops.
Ensuing the creative intellectual was the Mecca Don himself CL Smooth putting down his suave flow to one of Run DMC’s colossal jams “Down With The King” blazing his verse before igniting the house to timeless Pete Rock collabo hits “Straighten It Out“, “I’ll Take You There” and ultimate signature track “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y)” from their 1992 debut album Mecca and The Soul Brother bringing the entire venue at its feet.
Hip hop Junkies Nice n’ Smooth also made their presence felt performing hits “Funky For You“, “Hip Hop Junkies“, and hands down Gang Starr party jam collab “DWYCK” making the crowd go wild yet the showcase could not come full circle without awarding flowers to Hip Hop legends who laid the foundation for this ubiquitous genre.
Soul Sonic Force were the first of several trailblazers to grace the stage performing undying hits “Looking for The Perfect Beat“, “Renegades of Funk“, “Play That Beat” and eternal Gold track “Planet Rock” taking fans back to the schooling origins of Hip Hop flavor.
Innovator Kurtis Blow followed the legendary hit list of the old school lineup performing infinite classics “AJ Scratch“, “Don’t Stop The Body Rock“, and first certified Gold rap song “The Breaks” rocking the place with his amazing Bboy dancers showing their fly breakdancing skills.
Further pioneers Sugarhill Gang, Furious Five’s Grandmaster, Melle Mel, Scorpio together with Sweet G performed their groundbreaking party hits “8th Wonder“, “Freedom“, “Rapper’s Delight” and “Games People Play” sending the whole performing arts center out the stratosphere with the final act taking it to another dimension.
The Teacha and founder of Boogie Down Productions KRS-One closed out the supersonic showcase only as he could spitting his prolific freestyle bars of knowledge before paying homage to Abbatiello for launching endless careers in the Hip Hop culture then exploding into massive jams “South Bronx“, “The Bridge Is Over” and “Step Into A World” annihilating the arena.
This was the first of many upcoming Hip Hop 50th celebrations, for a full list of events and tours visit: hiphop50.com, uhhm.org, rockthebells.com, the50thanniversaryofhip-hop.com, and all streaming platforms. Salute to Hip Hop!!
