Saturday (July 16) marked the finale in a special weeklong celebration of hip-hop culture in New York City. The 12th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival made its way to Brooklyn Bridge Park for its highly-anticipated concert featuring Nas, Fabolous, Talib Kweli and Rapsody. The event capped off four days of acknowledgment for classic films, DJs, MCs, activism and art. A worthy ending to the revered yearly event, hometown heroes, buzzing stars and up-and-coming talent all basked in the borough’s ambiance beneath its most noted landmark.
North Carolina-born MC Rapsody made her time at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival a momentous occasion. Taking the stage to perform tracks such as “The Man” and “Believe Me,” she also made a huge announcement: she was Roc Nation’s newest signee. Producer 9th Wonder – to whom Rapsody serves as protege – was also on-hand for her set. The event also welcomed performances from other artists, including OSHUN, Masego and producer Melo-X.

Talib Kweli and Fabolous turned the stage into a homecoming as the Brooklyn spitters rocked amongst their own to a plethora of hits, while also inviting special guests. Kweli performed classics such as Black Star’s “Knowledge of Self,” as well as favorites like “Get By.” He also took the opportunity to bring out The Crooklyn Dodgers – Buckshot, Masta Ace and Special Ed – to perform “Crooklyn.” Fabolous also hit the crowd with jams, from newer favorites like “Lituation” to classics like “Breathe” to his freestyle over Desiigner’s “Panda.” Keeping with the guest star trend, Fab shared the stage with Smif-N-Wessun, M.O.P’s Lil’ Fame and BK newcomer Dyme-A-Duzin.

Rounding out the evening was the one and only Nas, who was accompanied by New Orleans’s Soul Rebels brass band. Taking the audience through a journey of beloved tracks such as “N.Y. State of Mind,” “The World Is Yours” and “If I Ruled the World,” the Queens legend paid homage to the likes of Pete Rock, The Notorious B.I.G, Outkast and Michael Jackson – whose “Human Nature” was used to segway into “It Ain’t Hard to Tell.” As a theme of solidarity was weaved into his commentary, he also performed later tracks like “One Mic,” urging the crowd to use their voice, and his guest verse on Kanye West’s Late Registration track to remind them “We Major.”
The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival continues to grow as it remains one of the most respected events for the culture in the city.