I attended the True School NYC Summer Park Jam Series yesterday evening-- it was off the hook! Hip Hop legends were in full effect at this free event in Crotona Park in the Bronx, New York.


Jazzy Jay kicked it off followed by Kool DJ Red Alert. Red is a radio legend an I did not expect him to go as deep as he did...he did not play anything pop, all of the tracks he laid down were rare classics. Of course, Bam played last. I was most interested seeing Afrika Bambaatta in his home base, the Boogie Down Bronx. He lived up to his legendary reputation as one of the original beat scientists, laying down some of his hottest tracks. It was unbelievable to see the crowd erupt simultaneously into the classic dances each of his song illicited.

I have had the pleasure of filming and hanging out with Jazzy Jay for a documentary short I am producing on the Bronx, for the Tree Museum. I had the rare opportunity to film him in is 100,000 record plus vault of albums, so I know he was going to dig deep and bring the jazzy funk he is known for-- and he did!

Jay told me a few weeks prior this was a show that should not be missed because Bam rarely performs for free in his hometown da Bronx. And it was even rarer to see him perform with his old school comrades from the Zulu Nation, I was not disappointed. The Zulu Nation was deep in the house. The Other Elements of Hip Hip represented as well. Graffiti legends from TATS CRU, Nicer and BG123 were there along with B-Boys from the Rock Steady Cru breaking in the circle. Mr Wiggles was there but I did not see him hit the pavement, he left that to the young ones. Big props go to PopMaster Fabel and Christie of Tools of War for organizing the this free event for the "young" people Bronx community. It was funny that there were very few young ones at the event, there were more of us 30 + Hip Hop heads representing. All said, it was a fun, peaceful, drama free day in the park listening to beats by the best.