ITS ALL BLACK MUSIC + Mayor Adams are bringing a stellar concert series to New York! They just announced DJ line ups for 5 nights straight in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. The 5×5 Block Party Series will include music from DJ Enuff, mOma, Mister Cee, Prince Paul and many more! There is also a special talk series with SALT-N-PEPA at laguardia performing arts center. These block parties are starting ASAP! Clear your calendar for August 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th and 13th, because you need to attend this 5-borough block party! 

The event will include not only a stellar line-up of artists but also seminal artists, street art installations, food vendors, interactive experiences and educational-entertainment talks. The city is partnering with Pixis Drones to create a free drone light show at each and every party! New York City will be honoring the genre of hip-hop through multiple citywide initiatives. They are collaborating with the LISA Project NYC to create 50 murals across all 5 boroughs The presence of KRS-One, representing hip hop’s longtime leadership, ensures that these block parties will not only be a celebration of the past, but a powerful inspiration for the future of this influential art form.

Here’s a little history on how this 5-decade x 5-borough block party got its start:

“On August 11, 1973, a back to school jam hosted by brother and sister Cindy and Clive Campbell, aka DJ Kool Herc, on Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx spilled out onto the street. That night, hip hop — and the block party — were born. Fifty years later, both live on,” said New York City Mayor Adams. “As the birthplace of hip hop, New York City is proud to host these free block parties and events as a celebration of that spirit that started 50 years ago.”

Here is the broken-down lineup for all of the parties coming in the next few weekends:

BROOKLYN:

DJ Enuff 

DJ mOma 

DJ Mister Cee

DJ Prince Paul

DJ Camilo

DJ Niara Sterling

With special guest performances by 

KRS-ONE

Dead Prez

Jungle Brothers

Fu-Shnickens

+More

QUEENS: 

DJ Envy

DJ Prince Paul

DJ mOma

DJ JS

DJ Sylk

With special guest performances by 

Roxanne Shante

Onyx

Kool G Rap

Mobb Deep 

+More 

STATEN ISLAND: 

DJ Red Alert

DJ Prince Paul

DJ Drewski

Statik Selektah

DJ Evil Dee

With special guest performances by 

KRS-ONE

Jungle Brothers

Nems

Dres from Black Sheep

+More

HARLEM: 

Lineup to be announced soon 

BRONX:

DJ Sets and performances by

DJ Kid Capri

Grandmaster Cas

Talib Kweli

Chuck D

KRS-ONE

+More

The free block parties celebrating Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary will take place at the following locations, dates, and times: 

BROOKLYN

Saturday, August 5, 2023

3:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Fulton Street & Washington Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11238

QUEENS

Sunday, August 6, 2023

3:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Vernon Boulevard & 41st Avenue

Dutch Kills, NY 11101

Photo credit: Brett Padelford