“You are the last one [upholding Hip-Hop],” Dougie Fresh said prophetically to rapper Nas at a surprise birthday party last night in New York City’s Canal Room. “We cancelled a [another] show to do
this.”
The rapper’s wife, Kelis, planned and packed the Canal Room with a bevy of friends, fans, family and music industry insiders that partied
to an old-school-themed evening of Hip-Hop.
Images of the Fat Boys, Eric B & Rakim, Michael Jackson and others lined the walls of the
venue.
Dougie Fresh, along with partner-in-rhyme Slick Rick, headlined a star-studded party/performance event last night that celebrated the Queensbridge rapper’s 33rd birthday.
The opinion of Fresh was echoed as many in the event sweated to the classic tunes of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.
“I want yall to know, Nas got a very good heart and [is] very gifted,” Dougie said towards the conclusion of an evening that carried into
early morn.
Many of those that filled the Canal Room wore their old school paraphernalia like Cazals, fat laces, jean suits, gold “dookie” ropes and other items.
For others, accessories were given to them by Adidas, Kangol and faux gold bamboo earrings, which were popular with the b-girls of the 80’s.
Those in attendance included DJ Premier, D-Nice, Grand Master Dee of Whodini, Kelis, Kanye West, Dana Dane, The Awesome Two, Questlove of
The Roots, The Lox, Chill Will, the Bravehearts, Chamillionaire, Kwame, Jim Jones, DMC, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Nick Cannon, Floetry’s Marcia Ambrosius and DJ Goldfinger on the turntables.
The event also attracted a number of non-musicians like basketball players Chris Webber and Carmelo Anthony, business mogul Steve Stoute,
comic Tracy Morgan and host Katt “Money Mike” Williams.
In addition to the various appearances, Kelis arranged performances from rap icons like Bizzy Bee, Monie Love, Just Ice, Grand Master
Melle Mel, Dana Dane and song diva Micki Howard, among others.
Surrounded by his crew, Nas reveled in the festive environment rapping the words of the songs and enjoying the performances of some his
favorite childhood rappers.
Katt Williams and others such as Tracy Morgan provided creative banter throughout the evening.
“For my birthday party, I had Kriss Kross and Chuckii Booker,” Williams joked. “Anybody worth being here is here. I could die right now, Jesus take me please.”
Kelis may have topped her spouse’s gift last month in terms of nostalgia.
Last month, Nas gathered about 100 of Kelis’ friends and family to celebrate her 27th birthday in New York City.
He gave her a blue-grey GMC Denali with a vanity license plate that read “PWRMATRS2.”