Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg has released the full fall line-up of shows for 2023, covering genres and artists from across the musical and entertainment spectrum.
The line-up of more than 50 shows includes a wide array of performers, from up and coming to established acts, including the likes of Andy Frasco, Antibalas, Bahamas, Bombino, Melvin Seals & JGB, the 21st Annual New York Burlesque Festival Premiere Party, The Hold Steady, and more!
One of Brooklyn Bowl’s unique traditions happens every weekend with late night dance parties, hosted by DJs spinning tracks from ABBA to Jay-Z.
Brooklyn Bowl rang in 2023 with three epic nights from New York City based gypsy-punk band Gogol Bordello last year, and this December, they will grace the Brooklyn Bowl stage for a 4-night run of celebratory New Years’ shows from the 28th-31st.
The original Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg has introduced a groundbreaking integration of premiere music, expansive bowling, locally crafted beers, and an exquisite dining menu from the acclaimed Blue Ribbon Restaurant Group. Located in the beautiful, 19th-century Hecla Iron Works building, the venue — aka “rock and roll heaven” (Village Voice) — boasts a sound system and amenities that “no other local rock club can offer” (The New York Times).
BROOKLYN BOWL FALL 2023 LINEUP
September 21st: Bombino
September 21st: DJ set by Duran Duran’s Dom Brown
September 22nd: Dopapod
September 23rd: George Porter Jr.
September 24th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Bob Marley (daytime)
September 28th: Durand Jones
September 29th: 21st Annual New York Burlesque Festival Premiere Party
September 29th:The Midnight Bowl (late night)
September 30th: Monophonics
October 1st: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Coldplay (daytime)
October 4th: Common Kings
October 5th: Underground Springhouse
October 6th and 7th: Futurebirds
October 7th: Take On Me: Retro 80s Party (late night)
October 8th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Grateful Dead (daytime)
October 11th: Long Beach Dub Allstars + Passafire
October 12th: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
October 13th and 14th: Andy Frasco
October 15th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music Fela Kuti (daytime)
October 15th: Vintage Trouble
October 19th: Próxima Parada
October 20th: Bahamas
October 21st: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
October 21st: Emo Night Brooklyn (late night)
October 22nd: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Rihanna (daytime)
October 26th: Walrus in Wonderland: Jamified Alice in Wonderland Party
October 27th: Talib Kweli Live with Full Band!
October 27th: Taylor’s Version (late night)
October 28th: Melvin Seals & JGB
October 28th: This Party is Killing You: The Robyn Party Robyn-O-Ween 2023 (late night)
October 29th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Presents Halloween Spectacular (daytime)
October 31st: Saved By the 90s with The Bayside Tigers
November 2nd: Mac Sabbath
November 3rd and 4th: Antibalas
November 9th: Trouble No More: Music of The Allman Brothers
November 5th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Elton John (daytime)
November 11th: Couch
November 11th: Can’t Feel My Face (late night)
November 12th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Blink-182 (daytime)
November 15th: Madame Gandhi
November 16th: The Pharcyde
November 17th: Boy Named Banjo
November 17th: Nicki Night (late night)
November 18th: Eggy
November 19th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Harry Styles (daytime)
November 24th: Boogie T.RIO & Manic Focus Live Band
November 26th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of ABBA (daytime)
November 29 – December 2nd: The Hold Steady: Massive Nights 2023
December 3rd: Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Jay-Z (daytime)
December 8th: Big Freedia
December 10th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of Taylor Swift (daytime)
December 15th: Krasno Moore Project + Special Guests
December 16th: The Slackers
December 17th: The Rock and Roll Playhouse Plays the Music of The Beatles (daytime)
December 22nd: The Weight Band’s 10 Year Celebration: Music of “The Band”
The Bushwick Film Festival is set to celebrate its 16th anniversary this fall, with the festival taking place from October 25-29th. Inspired by the notion of the “Sweet Sixteen,” a time of growth, self-discovery, and newfound independence, this year’s festival theme revolves around exploring and embracing our passage into life’s next chapter, through cinema.
The festival continues its partnership with Williamsburg Cinemas, where all festival films will be screened. To celebrate its Sweet 16, this year’s films will explore themes of coming-of-age, self-realization, and the quest for personal freedom, captured through the cinematic lens.
Turning 16 traditionally symbolizes growth and discovery, but these transformative moments are not bound by age. We find defining moments at every juncture and during every transition. As we usher in the 16th Bushwick Film Festival, we’re celebrating more than just cinema; we’re embracing the journey, the lessons, and the stories that have brought us here. Here’s to life’s defining chapters and the many stories that intertwine with them.
Kweighbaye Kotee, Founder
The festival features not only an exciting lineup of films, but also a range of special events. The Opening Night Red Carpet Reception will take place at Brooklyn Borough Hall on October 25. In addition, the Movie Industry Conference will feature a full day of panel discussions, conversations, and networking opportunities for industry professionals and filmmakers. Finally, a lively Sweet 16 Party will be held at Lot 45.
Tickets to the 16th Anniversary Bushwick Film Festival, and film programing highlights can be found below, as well as at www.bushwickfilmfestival.com:
Halloween-inspired movie night: Campy Horrors, Thrillers and Supernartural
Brooklyn-based electropop duo, FIIZ, released their newest single “Phantom Limb” on September 14. “Phantom Limb” skillfully captures the torment of an emotional rupture that is often overlooked, and faced by everyone in today’s society.
This new track forces listeners to contemplate a deeply personal sentiment: the odd feeling of missing someone even if they are physically present. While songs, movies, and literature prepare us for the heartache of romantic love, few artists offer solace for the experience of losing a platonic friend. “Phantom Limb” invites listeners to face these feelings head-on, and normalize this sensation.
“We wanted to write about the aftermath when time has passed and healing has begun, but maybe there will never be closure.”
Isabelle, FIIZ
The band FIIZ is comprised of Fiona (Fi) and Isabelle (Iz). The band sprouted from their profound friendship that grew during the quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic. As artists, they aim to defy norms as they both fearlessly represent the LGBTQ+ community, and champion the queer community proudly through their music. They continue to break the heteronormative pop culture that’s deeply engraved in the music industry, shattering barriers with their unapologetic artistic expression and empowering presence.
FIIZ’s sound is a canvas where both band members blend their influences, resulting in an electronic-pop sound that incorporates elements of hyperpop and EDM. Their previous single, “Lungs,” stands as a celebration of queer sensuality, capturing the emotions experienced during a woman’s first encounter with another woman.
In an era where music tends to romanticize and idealize heteronormative relationships, FIIZ’s “Phantom Limb” stands as a testament to the complexity of human connections, reaching their listeners on a deeper, more personal level.
Listen to their single on Spotify and follow them on Instagram for future updates.
Afropunk returned to Brooklyn for 2 days of music on August 26th & 27th. The festival took place at Brooklyn’s Greenpoint Terminal Market for 2023.
As on brand for Afropunk, the lineup for the festival was all black artists from various genres. Some notable names included Tobe Nwigwe, Baby Tate, and Vince Staples. The lineup also included New York’s own Joey Bada$$, and day 2 headliner, Teyana Taylor.
Unlike last year, this year had a theme, which was Circus of Soul. Motifs of this theme could be seen throughout the event. Both on stage and in the crowd, fans and artists dressed as though they were part of a circus. R&B artist Cleo Reed really leaned into the theme by dressing them selves and other stage performers in clown attire during their set. There were performers on stilts wearing kente cloth patterns walking throughout the crowd. There were also Aerial Ring performers periodically doing stunts throughout the weekend.
This year was truly one to be at, as there were many performances and attractions that festival goers could really interact with all day.
A festival of the Arts
Afropunk is a festival that is bigger than music. Though music may be the highlight, it also features art and artists from all over the globe that center their creativity around the African diaspora. Inside the Spin Thrift Market, there were vendors selling things like clothes, jewelry, books, and weed products. Outside the Market, there were spaces for health and beauty. Festival goers were able to get their hair and makeup done, henna tattoos, and facials. Most of the vendors were also African American owned and operated.
In addition to vendors that were selling merchandise, there were also areas for festival goers to interact. In the center between the two stages, there were tents set up for festival goers to play games and run through a bubble pit. It seems as though they learned from last year as most activities and vendors were set up under large tents to protect against any potential rain.
Nonetheless, as much as there was to do off stage, there was much to watch on stage. There was a two stage setup to accommodate for about 30 performances. In between performances on both stages were DJ SNS and DJ Mohogany. They helped to keep the party going as people awaited some of their favorite artists to take the stage.
Day 1 Highlights
Day 1 had strong performances from Cleo Reed and a collaboration from the Soapbox presents on the 3 Ring Stage. The Soapbox brought together vocalists and musicians to bring a rock, R&B, and gospel like performance. This was one of the many perfect displays of how African American music is has roots in so many different genres that tend to overlap one another. The performance had fans feeling cool in the end of summer heat.
One of day 1’s most notable and electric performances was from Tobe Nwigwe. Originally from Houston, TX, Tobe holds on to his Nigerian roots well as they could be seen in his performances. He is always recognizable with his seafoam green outfits and sets. He brought out his wife, Martica Nwigwe, for a few songs from his set. He also had Olu from Earthgang come out for a song. Olu came out on brand, wearing seafoam green wings to sing “WILDLINGS” with Tobe. The performance was full of energy and surprises that keep the audience screaming for an hour.
Tobe’s performance was evened out by a more mellow from Vince Staples. Vince stared as “Maurice” earlier this year in the Emmy award winning show, Abbott Elementary. His Long Beach, CA vibes really brought the crowd down from their state of choas from before. Though his set did not features as many theatrics like Tobe’s, he still had the attention of the crowd. Vince had the crowd singing along to his hit song, “Norf Norf,” before there was a mass exodus from the event.
An uneventful end to the hype
The first night was headlined by Flying Lotus. He is a producer and DJ who has worked on many projects on TV shows and film. One of the most notable projects was Netflix’sYasuke, an anime centered around the story of Japan’s first black samurai. He makes a lot of EDM and electronic rap songs primarily.
Flying Lotus did not receive much of an introduction which left many fans confused. Though his fans would be familiar with his music and style, this may have been many’s first exposure to him. He could barely be seen from behind his DJ booth and did not say a word for at least the first 20 minutes of his set. About halfway through, he was joined by rapper Smoke DZA, who he is working on a collaborative album with. Smoke DZA did bring some excitement and energy to his performance.
After Smoke DZA’s exit, Flying Lotus played a few more songs and was about to leave. He did not realize that his set was not over and played for about another 15 minutes. Flying Lotus had a pretty anti-climatic exit, as it was a pretty bleak end to day 1 of Afropunk 2023.
A stark turn around from Day 1’s mishaps
Day 2 still featured a full lineup that had Greenpoint full. What was nice about this year’s festival was the scheduling of performances. With the stage schedules pretty staggered, fans were able to see all their artists without really having to miss a performance. This really set Afropunk apart from other festivals as many usually have fans contemplating which artists they wanted to see more. If they wanted to, fans could see just about every artist and take in the full Afropunk experience.
Some notable performances from Day 2 were from Baby Tate and Joey Bada$$. Baby Tate brought a fun energy out of the crowd. With a lot of positive sexual messages infused in her lyrics, her music and performance made Greenpoint a safe space for women to express themselves. In the middle of her set, Baby Tate took a break and her DJ Sky Jetta tapped into a different side of her fans. Though Baby Tate makes rap music, Sky Jetta played alternative rock hits, including “I write sins not tragedies” that absolutely killed.
Baby Tate came back and continued to kill. She played unreleased song “Wig” and ended on her hit “I am” to leave things on a high. Joey Bad$$ proceeded her and continues to bring smiles.
New York showing out for New York artists
Joey Bad$$ was happy to be back in his hometown as he expressed his love for Brooklyn all through out his performance. The theme around his performance was love as he turned the camera toward the audience to celebrate black love. He had a kiss cam going on for a bit before singing “Love is only a feeling.” He dedicated a few songs to fallen black artists including, XXXTentacion, Nipsey Hustle, Pop Smoke, Young Dolph, and more.
Before he left, he expressed his happiness to be playing at an event where he could see so many black faces. He also threw a jab at Afropunk for being a bit unprofessional behind the scenes. He still left things on a high with “Devasated” before handing the stage over to Teyana Taylor.
The energy from day 2 was drastically different than from the previous day. Day 2’s lineup featured so many artist that people knew and loved. They had performances that people wanted to be a part of and sing along with. Day 2 was originally supposed to end with Grammy award winner Jazmine Sullivan. Due to some personal reasons, she could not perform, but Teyana Taylor was passed the torch to close out the weekend.
Rose of Harlem feeling the love
Nicked named the “Rose of Harlem”, Teyana Taylor closed out to packed audience in her city. Teyana had mentioned during her performance that she was nervous to headline a show as she felt as though no one would stay for her. Though some mic issues may have fueled those nerves early on, New York showed her so much love that it brought her to tears.
The sound was getting too much for Teyana as she asked for just the keys to play during one of her songs. She was able to get real close and emotional with the crowd before turning things back up. The crowd screamed “Issues” and ” Gonna Love Me” with Teyana.
She was joined on stage by her daughter ,”Junnie,” and husband Iman Shumphert, for a few songs. Her daughter helped her throw out free t-shirts to the audience. Teyana also had 3 outfit changes that synced up with the many different vibes of her performance.
She exited the stage, but quickly came back for an encore. Teyana ran into the middle column of the pit to slap the hands of her fans before closing out the night. She thanked New York for showing her so much love and making this performance one worth leaving retirement for.
Afropunk continued to bring peace, love, and education about African American culture to one of the biggest melting pots of the world. With Afropunk’s voice continuing to reach millions, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to expand to other cities across the globe.
Indie rock singer-songwriter Stephen Artemis Jr. announced his new single, “Pale Blue,” released on September 15. The new track is a classic American murder ballad, as Artemis channels country, rock, and indie veins to fuse his newest release.
“Pale Blue” is a lively Americana track from Artemis, showing his signature harmonica skills and a strong following melody. It has a full, busy arrangement, which is not to it’s detriment, but instead emphasizes the pressure and drama of the murder ballad storyline. With inspiration of dark, true crime media, Stephen Artemis Jr. creates a searing look into Americana folk-rock tunes and steadily marks his place among them.
I really like true-crime podcasts. I watched way too much true-crime TV over the pandemic, so I think that’s how the song’s concept crept into my brain. I wanted to test myself to see if I could write something dark, like a true-crime podcast, but in my preferred medium; music’s version of true-crime is “the murder ballad” and Americana music is particularly rife with that type of song, but I felt that nobody had written a proper murder ballad in a long time.
Stephen Artemis Jr.
No stranger to the New York music scene, Stephen Artemis Jr was born and raised in New York’s Capital Region. In 2006, he moved to New York City and now operates out of Brooklyn. As a former member of Brooklyn-based The Falling Birds, Artemis now leads his own solo project, with two albums under his belt so far. “Pale Blue” marks the beginning of his new project, with more announcements to come.
“Pale Blue” is available on streaming services and for download on BandCamp. Find more information and announcements to come at stephenartemis.com.
Monday, September 11 saw indie-rock legends Pavement perform at Brooklyn Steel for the first of four shows, amid a reunion tour that has stretched on since 2022 and is wrapping up with a performance at The National’s Homecoming Festival.
Drummer Steve West welcomed the crowd, saying, “Hi, we’re the Pavement Band,” setting a tone for the night, kicking off with “Heckler Spray” off 1993’s Westing (By Musket and Sextant). The lengthy first set included “Embassy Row,” “Kennel District,” “Gold Soundz” and “Serpentine Pad,” closing out the show with “Major Leagues.”
Prior to the three-song encore, frontman Stephen Malkmus thanked the audience and the openers for the evening, Kiwi Jr, from Toronto, joking with the fans and thanking them for coming to see ‘some washed up losers.’ The band wrapped up the show with “Father to a Sister of a Thought,” “Cut Your Hair,” and “Stop Breathin.”
Pavement – Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn – Monday, September 11, 2023
Setlist: Heckler Spray, Feed ‘em to the (Linden) Lions, Embassy Row, Starlings of the Slipstream, Perfume-V, Kennel District, She Believes, Gold Soundz, Black Out, Silence Kid, Serpentine Pad, Folk Jam, Spit on a Stranger, We Dance, Box Elder, The Hexx, Painted Soldiers, Harness Your Hopes, fight This Generation, Shoot the Singer (1 Sick Verse), Debris Slide, Type Slowly, Major Leagues
Encore: Father to a Sister of Thought, Cut Your Hair, Stop Breathin
Taper’s Choice, the Los Angeles jamband super group have announced fall tour dates, kicking off with a pair of shows at Union Pool in Brooklyn over September 15-16. They’ll also make a stop at Woodsist Fest, held in Accord, NY on September 22.
Taper’s Choice – Alex Bleeker (Real Estate), Dave Harrington (Darkside), Zach Tenorio-Miller (Arc Iris) and Chris Tomson (Vampire Weekend) – will make stops in Montague, Mass for a show at Big Brown, then head up to Burlington for a show at the famed Nectar’s. They’ll then head back down toward the Hudson Valley for their appearance at Woodsist Festival, which will also see performances by Kevin Morby, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Avery Tare, Woods, Cass McCombs, Bombino, Natural Information Society, Scientist, MJ Lenderman, Water from Your Eyes and more.
As Aquarium Drunkard notes in their interview with Taper’s Choice, the band took the stage to a sold out crowd at Gold Diggers in East Hollywood, CA, without having played a note together. The crowd was in agreement as the musicianship on display thrust the band into conversations among jamband aficionados, quickly becoming a sought after ticket at clubs around the country.
The Brooklyn Blues Society presents its 13th annual Big Eyed Blues Festival, a two-day event filled with nothing but blues from September 21-22.
The Big Eyed Blues Festival is made possible by The Brooklyn Blues Society, founded by Bereather Reddy, a long-time blues listener and singer. The BBS mission is to preserve Blues music and culture by presenting it underserved youth and communities through performances, workshops, and lectures. Various artists will be attending this year’s Big Eyed Blues Festival, such as Adjua Ajamu, the NU GYPSIES, and other highly anticipated events and artists listed below.
Thursday, September 21
(7-10PM) Blues Dance Party – 275 Park Ave, Brooklyn, NY
The Madame Pat Tandy Band. A legend in the NYC jazz scene, widely known as the First Lady of New Jersey Jazz.
Bearather & The Brown Liquor Sounds. Words fail to describe their artistic aura: visit this link to see what they can do.
Blues People. A NY/NJ band exploring the effects of blues on current American culture.
Friday, September 22
“Blues for All Seasons and Reason” – Jalopy Theatre, 315 Columbia St. Brooklyn, NY
Adjua Ajamu. Combines relaxing modern sounds with the old-fashioned vibes of blues.
Keith “The Captain” Gamble & NU GYPSIES. Completed a three-nation European tour, showing the world what he can do–which is a lot. Keith is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player, doused in everything blues music can offer.
The Brooklyn Bowl has announced its 12th annual Bowl Hashanah, set for Saturday, Sept. 16, featuring morning services and a number of well-known musicians.
Presented by The Friday Night Jam & FANS.live, the event will kick off at 10:30 AM with Rosh Hashanah morning services led by Rabbi Daniel Brenner with musical director Jeremiah Lockwood, Antibalas’ Jordan McLean (who just wrapped a performance at Newport Jazz Festival), Antibalas’ Timothy Allen, drummer John Bollinger, saxophonist Stuart Bogie and Yula Berri on vocals and bass.
In addition, Taper’s Choice/Darkside member Dave Harrington, Taper’s Choice/Real Estate member Alex Bleeker, Dr. Dog member, and Kevin Morby collaborators Erick Slick and Will Epstein will all make guest appearances. Afro-beat group Armo will also perform a spiritual set. Internationally based teacher Aliza Rivka will lead a guided meditation at each event. After services at 12:30 PM, a lunch will be provided by Blue Ribbon with a ticket purchase.
All proceeds will support the non-profit organization Shalom Y’all Jams, which works to organize holiday services at non-traditional locations.
We have said for years that Brooklyn Bowl is our sanctuary, clubhouse, church and synagogue, so it only makes sense that it has grown into the spiritual home for our musically inclined Rosh Hashanah services over the years. Especially at a time when so many of us have been apart from our friends and family due to the pandemic, we hope that our suite of traditional-but-open-minded-and-inclusive services will allow us to connect with each other as we ‘begin again’ at the start of this new year.
Relix’s Editor-in-Chief Mike Greenhaus
The Brooklyn Bowl was ranked the #1 busiest club in NYC and #7 busiest club in the world in 2017 by Pollstar. Featuring groundbreaking integration of premiere music, 16 lanes of bowling, a bar featuring locally crafted beers, and food by the acclaimed Blue Ribbon restaurant group, the venue, aka “rock and roll heaven” (Village Voice) boasts a sound system and amenities that “no other local rock club can offer” (The New York Times). Environmentally sustainable, the venue is the first L.E.E.D.-certified bowling alley in the world and serves paper straws.
The Friday Night Jam & FANS.live have a number of other spiritually and musically inclined High Holiday Services which can be streamed live here. Each service will be led by Rabbi Daniel Brenner and musical director Jeremiah Lockwood, featuring Antibalas’ Jordan McLean, Yuli Beeri, saxophonist Stuart Bogie, and a full live band. Patti Smith Group’s Lenny Kaye, The Lonesome Prairie Dogs’ Heidi Lieb, and drummer Amir Ziv will also perform live at the Relix Studio during the streams.
Livestream Schedule
Friday, SEPT 15 @ 7:30 PM EST from The Relix Studio
Saturday, SEP 16 @ 10 AM EST from Brooklyn Bowl
Sunday, Sept 24 @ 7:30 PM from The Relix Studio (stream live via Fans.live)
Monday, Sept 25 @ 10 AM from The Relix Studio (stream live via Fans.live)
As part of the event’s anniversary celebration, during the Sunday, Sept. 25 service, Lockwood’s The Sway Machinery will present Hidden Melodies Revealed 15 at Brooklyn Bowl. This new iteration of the concert-ritual will celebrate the widening circles of cantorial revival, and Yiddish experimental expressive culture that have emerged in the last decade. Offering a counterpoint to The Sway Machinery’s futurist sound, a second stage will be set up in the middle of the venue that will host a “radical traditionalist” band performing new arrangements of Jewish ritual music on strings.
For more information on Bowl Hashanah, visit here.
While Hip-Hop started in the Boogie Down Bronx, Brooklyn birthed hip-hop’s heart. As an art form, New York started hip-hop. How wondrous the gift of spinning records to make new records. Hustle never quits. From the DJ spinning on turntables to the space decked out in graffiti – real performers make bystanders break out and dance. In the beginning, Brooklyn seismically shook the genre to its core and showcased all four core elements of hip-hop masterfully.
Imitation remains the highest form of flattery and nobody does it better than cats from Brooklyn. Subsequently, those outside of New York may struggle to understand the sense of pride attached to being Brooklyn-bred. The confidence serves as a survival tactic and the greatest emcees of all time – Biggie and Jay-Z exemplify this to the fullest.
Brooklyn Lineage
Many significantly trace hip-hop’s lineage to the Native Tongues. Imagine a genre-wide family tree and the many roots/branches that sprout as time progresses. Individuals who emerged from the throws of Native Tongues travel far and wide. Real artists leave an incredulous mark on the genre through the element of timelessness. Jungle Brothers, Yasiin Bey, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest all blossomed ‘Straight out the Jungle’ of the Native Tongues.
Hip-Hop as a Timeless Tool
While hip-hop began to surround the sound of Brooklyn in the late eighties – it wasn’t until the next decade that hip-hop started to resonate across all boroughs. Accordingly, Brooklyn encapsulated the sound that everyone tried to emulate. While some might argue that Cutmaster D.C.’s “Brooklyn’s in the House” put Brooklyn on the map – it’s not about who did it first – rather who did it right. Artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z stepped into the spotlight and left a footprint in the hip-hop world that could never be duplicated.
Centrally, hip-hop exists as the single greatest knowledge-based tool for all to encounter. The sheer cultural wisdom and latitude that the platform provides outweighs all other genres by a landslide. Hip-hop changes the world when it allows artists to elevate from aspirational to generational. Essentially, nobody manifested their realities into existence quite like Brooklyn-area emcees.
Surviving as a Brooklyn Artist
Naturally, a Brooklyn artist may be known to overcompensate within their discography to reach their desired heights. Reason being, overconfidence and a tough demeanor come as prerequisites for anyone who aims to survive in Brooklyn. Simultaneously, the way that Brooklyn artists polish their renditions to overcome struggles and hardships contributes wonderful works of art as a whole.
Consequently, groundbreaking artwork emerges to reflect the socioeconomic conditions of the times. Hip-hop during the Reagan-era birthed many blossoming acts with illusions of grandeur. Only the strong survive, as the opportunities of the times gave many a chance to shine. Alas, Brooklyn-born artists consistently put forth the most bravado and gumption to properly represent New York – the mecca of hip-hop.
Brooklyn We Go Hard
After Biggie passed in 1997 – he left a major void. As time went on, Jay-Z continued to outshine his counterparts. In 1998, Mos Def and Talib Kweli purchased Nkiru Books in Park Slope to turn it into an education center filled with open mic events, workshops and lectures. Nevertheless, Brooklyn carries the most soul and flavor for all to appreciate. Throughout time, gentrification slammed Brooklyn as it hardly resembles the original infrastructure. Long live Brooklyn landmarks like Albee Square Mall and Fulton Mall where countless hip-hop heads would gather and legends were made.
Today, nobody holds it down for Brooklyn quite like Joey Bada$$ and the Pro Era crew. The Beast Coast movement includes Flatbush Zombies, Underachievers and Pro Era which was started by Capital Steez. These prolific artists capitalize on the concept of tonal perception – which allows the listener to interpret the lyrics based upon how they sound.
Undoubtedly, hip-hop remains the most pivotal component to artistry as a whole. Nobody could replace the contributions made by hip-hop and the blessings continue to multiply within the genre. For those about to rap – we salute you!
