(AllHipHop News) Newark, New Jersey is going through a transformation for the better and it is being aided by its still prominent music scene.
The three-day Lincoln Park Music Festival culminated on Sunday (July 28th) with a gathering of Hip Hop legends that was referred to by Young Guru as “a Hip Hop reunion.” Truly surreal sight seeing Vinnie Brown from Naughty By Nature conversing with Billy Danze merely feet away from The Artifacts linking up with Shyheim The Rugged Child. Kwame put on a captivating show doing his first performance in Newark, NJ in his entire 20+ year career.
Redman, Lords of the Underground’s Doitall and the rest of the 211 Media were in a frenzy backstage trying to organize the vast amounts of guests and performers.
“Yesterday was an amazing day for the residents of the community of Newark, NJ,” said Du “Doitall” Kelly. “I commend my city, my staff, and the Lincoln Park Association for believing 211 Media Group could make the city move.”
Surprise guests included Black Rob, who injected the crowd with a dose of early 2000’s street energy with his performance of “Whoa”, New Jersey battle rap king Arsenal did a few joints and M.O.P. were the final surprise guests and provided one of the most energetic crowd reactions with their performance of “Ante Up”.
Around 7pm, after a few intermittent showers, the rain became unbearable forcing the show to be cut short right before big performances from Def Squad, Lords of the Underground, EPMD, Redman and Black Thought.
Newark mayoral candidate Shavar Jefferies was in attendance and applauded the Lincoln Park Music Festival for reinvigorating Newark with energy and constructive music to combat the current state of Hip Hop:
I’m kind of disappointed in some of the hip-hop we have nowadays, because some of the hip-hop we have now really points to the degenerating of our community. Its really not trying to uplift. Our city (Newark, NJ), we have too many shootings, too much crime, too much unemployment, high foreclosure rates. People are struggling. Its really important for our music and our art to form a way forward. So, I think that’s what we are here to celebrate today. So, I’m blessed to be here.
No violence, police infractions or bad vibes came from this peaceful gathering of a community transforming.