On Friday, Aug. 18th, multiple generations of longtime hip hop fans and listeners gathered in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park to celebrate Lyricist Lounge's 35th anniversary at the Lena Horne Bandshell.
The pioneering hip hop platform was founded in 1991 by Anthony Marshall and Danny Castro. It started as an open mic event to showcase artists in a small apartment on Manhattan's Lower East Side and quickly became an underground platform for some of the genre's most influential voices. Presented by BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, the free outdoor concert featured a wide range of established and emerging artists representing NYC’s underground and independent hip hop scene.
Performances included Nems, Northside Lord, Legendary Cyphers, Jourden Cox, Chris E. Bandz, Swerv Stacks, Bub Styles, Pro Dillinger, Lil Dee, Noah-O, Chubs and Cosi Pari while DJ Ant Marshall (co-founder) and DJ Trase kept the energy moving throughout the celebration.
Closing out the night with an electrifying performance was headliner, Yonkers native and LOX founding member Jadakiss. Known for his sharp lyricism and gritty delivery, he ended the evening with some of his greatest hits and fan favorites such as “We Gonna Make It” and “Knock Yourself Out."
More than three decades after Lyricist Lounge first became a safe haven for lyricists, its tradition continues with another generation stepping to the mic.
