Peace to MicWreck.

Hell yeah.

Going down tonight. I wish I had the energy to hit this up. Three shows in three nights will do that to ya.

update: Craig G and a special guest will be rocking tonight as well!

Sparky D and Roxanne Shante

Fearless 4

DJ Outlaw, Tony Tone, JDL and Smooth B

Cold Crush Brothers

LA Sunshine and Roxanne Shante

EZ Ad and Reggie Reg

Greg Nice

Chubb Rock

Cutman LG

Joe Ski Love

Scratch Master Jazzy G

Special Ed

6/7, 7pm @ Betsy Head Memorial Playground
EPMD / Funkmaster Flex

6/8, 7pm @ Betsy Head Memorial Playground
Special Ed

6/15, 7pm @ Herbert Von King Park
Nice and Smooth / The Awesome 2

6/21, 7pm @ Red Hook Park
Talib Kweli

6/28, 7pm @ Soundview Park
Funkmaster Flex and special guests

7/12, 7pm @ Crotona Park
Slick Rick / DJ Brucie B

7/19, 7pm @ Queensbridge Park
Kool Moe Dee

7/21, 7pm @ Queensbridge Park
Funkmaster Flex and special guests

8/2, 7pm @ Tappen Park
The Sugarhill Gang

8/9, 7pm @ Marcus Garvey Park
Rob Base / Funkmaster Flex

8/21, 7pm @ Central Park/Mainstage
Rakim / EPMD / Funkmaster Flex

8/24, 7pm @ East River Park
Cold Crush Brothers

I’m assuming this is part of Flex’s series of live shows paying homage to 90s Hip-Hop, which started a few years ago at BB Kings. For what it’s worth, I thought the overall format of those shows e.g. lots of artists doing their biggest hits within a very short time frame, was a definite success. Like listening to a classic G-Bo or Doo Wop mixtape. Peace to Flex for putting all of it together. link

New video for classic Nice & Smooth with cameos from Teddy Ted and BDK!

via ottn

I wasn’t sure what to expect at this show. How many people were going to be there? Who was getting on? Was Stretch, Bob and Lord Sear going to sit there and snap on cats in the crowd all night? Two things I definitely didn’t expect were the large turnout and the energetic crowd. I’ve been to enough classic Hip-Hop shows in NYC to know that people don’t come out to shows anymore. And, for those that do make it out, most like to stand in the crowd and give artists the face like “yeah, I’ve seen better.” Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the crowd. But where are all these dudes and the handful of lovely young ladies at other NYC shows? Where were they at the Nice & Smooth show in BB Kings a few years back, where there was literally no one left after the mud wrestling opening act was through. Yeah, I know. Things got so bad that the venue started giving out free tickets to people on the street outside…for a show that costs 30 bones previously. So the crowd was chock full of random tourists and passerbys with nothing better to do that night. Where are all these “real” fans hiding? Do people not care enough to make an effort anymore? Do people even know about these shows? It takes me less than five minutes online to see what’s going on in the next few months so I can’t imagine it’s a question of accessibility. Which means it has to be a lack of interest. For a long time, and even still, I’m mad bitter about all the shows I go to and seeing a thin crowd. I’ve gotten used to it but it doesn’t mean I’m happy.

Enough ranting. Stretch & Bob 20th anniversary. Classic. Audio below and videos after the break.

update: Peep the audio this Wednesday on EVR.

update 2: Audio below.

Stretch & Bobbito 20th Anniversary Celebration @ Le Poisson Rouge 2.10.11 by GRANDGOOD

captured by Ka5p

Adding to the ever growing list of dope shows going on that night is Nice & Smooth in Brooklyn, NY. Decisions, Decisions. link

Sat. 8/29
Nice & Smooth
Core Rhythm / Worspit & We Stole The Show
music provided by DJ Esquire. Hosted by Jason Negron
9 pm doors
Liondub Reggae Party will be downsouth as well..11pm doors

Southpaw
125 Fifth Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Only four weeks after the first Hip-Hop Legends show, here’s another one featuring another crazy lineup. I’m going to buy my ticket quick fast so I don’t miss out again. link

HIP-HOP LEGENDS CONCERT SERIES
Featuring: NAUGHTY BY NATURE, NICE & SMOOTH, BLACK MOON, SMIF-N-WESSON, MC LYTE, RAEKWON, SHOW BIZ & AG, LORD FINESSE AND DAS EFX

Music By
FUNKMASTER FLEX
CHUCK CHILLOUT

2009-06-17
11:00PM
Doors @ 10:30PM
$30.00 Advance

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42 St.
New York, NY 10036

Link

Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 // DOORS 8:00 PM
ADV $25 // DOS $28

Knitting Factory – New York
74 Leonard Street
New York, NY 10013

Can’t believe it’s been 21 years since the group’s first single was released. And that there are millions of hip-hop fans that weren’t even born when Nice & Smooth’s first album dropped in ‘89. Don’t sleep. Greg Nice and Smooth B are one of the better live acts out there. Check out these videos for proof. buy tickets

Thursday, Oct 30, 2008 // DOORS 8:00 PM
ADV $25 // DOS $28

Knitting Factory – New York
74 Leonard Street
New York, NY 10013

Head on over to DanteRoss.com to see video (Chubb Rock, Dante Ross, Kool Herc, Milk Dee, Naughty by Nature, Nice & Smooth, Special Ed) from this historic event. Surprisingly it seems this is barely getting talked about. Wtf? Hopefully it’s just the weekend delay. Peace to Dante Ross for the look! Link

previously:
Grandmaster Caz Performs with Sugar Hill Gang, Video Music Box 25th Anniversary Show Is A Night To Remember

The Video Music Box 25th Anniversary Show was a historic event. The artists either performing or in attendance was a virtual who’s who of Hip-Hop aristocracy (partial list below). The whole concert lasted about three hours with 10-15 minute sets for each act, which meant a steady stream of classic material. If you couldn’t make it to the show and want to get a sense of what tracks were performed, just throw on your best of 80s and 90s hip-hop mixtapes.

I gotta give props to Ralph McDaniels and crew for a few things that added to the show’s success. One is keeping the event so organized. Even with the hustle and bustle of artists continuously going on and off stage, everything ran smoothly. Also, the set lengths. There was always enough entertainment throughout the night to keep the crowd involved and on their toes. Of course, major props are due for the line up. Honestly, when was the last time you heard Spoonie Gee, Schoolly D or Milk Dee rock the mic? Let alone at the same free event! Throw on the fact that none of the artists who hit the stage got paid a cent. They all did it out of love and respect for Uncle Ralph and Video Music Box. Hip-Hop unity at its finest.

Obviously, there are plenty of highlights I could run through like Ralph showing off his DJ Clark Kent designed Air Force One’s made specifically for the anniversary. Or July 18th being officially declared Video Music Box Day by Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson. However, the livest part of the whole show was when the Sugar Hill Gang hit the stage to the tune of Rapper’s Delight. By now, most of us should know the back story behind Big Hank’s verse. After Wonder Mike finished up, I wondered how the crowd would react to Hank’s part of the song. The answer was that they didn’t get a chance to because Grandmaster Caz suddenly ran onto the stage and started spitting the rhymes! The icing on the cake was when Rahiem and Mele Mel of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five joined everybody up there. Amazing.

Big ups to Ralph for being the first and putting in 25 years of hard work. And here’s to another 25+! I got video footage for most of the sets but until those are edited and uploaded onto our youtube channel, check out some pictures I snapped in between recordings (after the jump).

Sugar Hill Gang
Grandmaster Caz
Rahiem
Mele Mel
Lovebug Starski
Crash Crew
Chubb Rock
Naughty By Nature
Nice & Smooth
Special Ed
Milk Dee
Spoonie Gee
Schoolly D
Dana Dane
DJ Jazzy Joyce
O.C.
A.G.
Fab 5 Freddy
Kool Herc
Awesome 2
Mr. Cheeks
Kool DJ Red Alert
Large Professor
Dres
Hakim (of Channel Live)

Sugar Hill Gang, Grandmaster Caz, Rahiem and Mele Mel

Special K

Smooth B

Ralph McDaniels and Kool Herc

Ralph McDaniels

Rahiem

Naughty By Nature

Mele Mel

Kool DJ Red Alert

Greg Nice

Greg Nice

Grandmaster Caz and Rahiem

DJ Jazzy Joyce

Dana Dane

Chubb Rock

Link

FEMALE MUD WRESTLING
Featuring: After-Work Party

Hosted by Gloria Velez>

Music by DJ SOFIE FATALE + DJ BLAZE

Hip-Hop’s Dynamic Duo NICE + SMOOTH

Sp. Guest Referee FREAK NASTY

2008-07-02
7:00PM
Doors @ 6PM

$27.50 Advance
$30.00 Day of Show

* 21 + to enter
* Proper Attire Required
* First match starts at 7PM

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42 Street
New York, NY 10036

Before Nice & Smooth hit the stage, there’ll be a female mud wrestling contest going down hosted by Gloria Velez. This might be the most entertaining opening act ever at a hip-hop show. buy tickets

FEMALE MUD WRESTLING
Featuring: After-Work Party

Hosted by Gloria Velez>

Music by DJ SOFIE FATALE + DJ BLAZE

Hip-Hop’s Dynamic Duo NICE + SMOOTH

Sp. Guest Referee FREAK NASTY

2008-07-02
7:00PM
Doors @ 6PM

$27.50 Advance
$30.00 Day of Show

* 21 + to enter
* Proper Attire Required
* First match starts at 7PM

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42 Street
New York, NY 10036

Never heard about this before but it seems like a huge deal. Cash prizes are in the millions depending on how old you are. Not sure why age is a factor though. I’m sure, in his heyday, Shyheim could’ve wrecked most MCs regardless of age. The guest judges for the rap battles are a virtual who’s who of Hip-Hop culture with cats like Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Herc, Roxanne Shante, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Moe Dee, Slick Rick, Nice & Smooth, Just-Ice, DMC, MC Lyte, Biz Markie, Whodini and A LOT more. Too bad they’re only judging and not performing. more info

The panel of judges for the upcoming World Series of Hip Hop rap battle and hip hop dance battle tournament has been released by the tournament’s organizing body. The tournament is set to award over $5 million in cash prizes to participants in nine categories.

Today in New York City, the World Series of Hip Hop released some of the names of judges who will oversee the championship matches of this year’s multi-million dollar tournament, scheduled for August 5-9, 2008 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.

Rappers and dancers from all corners of the world are expected to converge on Atlanta this summer for the opportunity to be judged by some of hip hop’s pioneers. The tournament’s championship matches will be aired live on pay-per-view Saturday August 9, 2008 at 7 p.m. EDT and will be hosted by radio personality and legendary female rapper Monie Love, New York City DJ and MTV host Cipha Sounds and nationally syndicated radio talk show host Wendy Williams. The judges who will decide who wins the Million Dollar Grand Prizes include: DMC of Run DMC, Rakim of Eric B and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Yo-Yo, Dougie Fresh, Roxanne Shante and Slick Rick.

“We want to make sure the judges are so official, that their decision as to who is the better rapper is beyond reproach. And the list is still not done,” said Furqaan Clover the events organizer.

The Rap Battle Tournament will consist of 6 categories with Championship Prizes in each category.

1. Heavyweight Male (ages 25 and up), Championship Prize $1,000,000 CASH!!!
2. Heavyweight Female (ages 25 and up), Championship Prize $1,000,000 CASH!!!
3. Middleweight Male (ages 21 to 24), Championship Prize $500,000 CASH!!!
4. Middleweight Female (ages 21 to 24), Championship Prize $500,000 CASH!!!
5. Lightweight Male (ages 18 to 20), Championship Prize $250,000 CASH!!!
6. Lightweight Female (ages 18 to 20), Championship Prize $250,000 CASH!!!

Link