Nas, Fabolous & Talib Kweli To Headline Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival
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by It’s about to get real Brooklyn, in Brooklyn, this summer.
Brooklyn Bodega, Inc. and The Bodega Agency has officially announced the line-up for their 12th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, heading back to Brooklyn Bridge Park where the festival took place back in 2011. The yearly four day festival is the city’s largest celebration of Hip-Hop Music and culture. This July 13-16th the entire borough will rock-out to the best hip-hop music, film, photography, MCs, DJs, food, fashion and more.
Headlining this year’s festival is none other than legendary Crown Heights born, Queens-bridge raised MC and entrepreneur Nasir Jones aka NAS. Joining Nas is Bed-Stuy’s own, Roc Nation protégé, Fabolous, and Brooklynite, activist and MC, Talib Kweli and Rapsody, one of Hip-Hop’s hottest leading ladies. They will be joined by Festival house DJ, Rob Swift, hosts Uncle Ralph McDaniels and Torae and many more artists to be announced.
“I am proud of the programming the team has put together this year. Nas was one of the last legends of the game we wanted to get. Been after that brother for six years! The fans (in our office and out) have been on us to get Fabolous as well. He is a Brooklyn king and we are honored to have him on our stage this year. [Talib] Kweli’s art and activism mirrors our own so much that people assumed he had played our stage before. He has been a guest several times but now we have him on that bill for real. Rapsody is an amazing talent that we also have been after for the past three years. She is coming off a banner and Grammy nominated year and I have no doubt people will be thrilled to put a name to the voice on that classic Kendrick [Lamar] album,” writes Festival Executive Director Wes Jackson. Wes went on to add, “We are also thrilled to be coming back to Brooklyn Bridge Park after a two year hiatus in Williamsburg. This is our home and while I have love for up north [Brooklyn], we belong right here in this world class park. We are also excited to be working with our friends at St. Ann’s Warehouse again. Years ago we shared the old Tobacco Warehouse. When I first saw it after their renovation I hardly recognized it. This is one of the most beautiful venues in Brooklyn and we thank them for opening their doors to us.”
The first two days of programming will be hosted Medgar Evers College. The Hip-Hop Institute (July 13th) and The Dummy Clap Film Festival (July 14th) both return to the esteemed college in Crown Heights.
“We held our inaugural Hip-Hop Institute event at Medgar [Evers College] last year and loved being there. Thankfully they felt the same and invited us back. Medgar’s commitment to the community is an inspiration and as we expand our educational programming and film offering we wanted to do it with them,” continued Jackson. “Many cultural institutions, festivals and venues give lip service to the support of Hip-Hop culture and its diverse family but there a few who back it up with action. Brooklyn Bridge Park, St. Ann’s Warehouse and Medgar Evers College are thankfully the latter. I thank them for their commitment and look forward to many more years working together.”
Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
