Hip Hop Stars Come Out To Support NY Hospitals

Posted by IV on October 29, 2011 // Leave Your Comment

( 4UMF NEWS ) Hip Hop Stars Come Out To Support

On an unusually cold and crisp night in the Bronx, hip-hop legends descended in Paradise Theater for a good cause. As part of the five-borough the second annual STAT! For New York City’s Public Hospitals, presented by New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) and The Fund for HHC, KISS FM and Hot 97 hosted Birth of the Boom, a chronological journey in hip-hop.

The performance, divided into two acts, was set amidst landscapes of hip hop culture complete with live illustrations of the Bronx during the graffiti era, break dancers, and a special tribute to the original B-Girls of Hip Hop by Full Circle Soul.

First off up to bat, the grandfather of hip hop and Bronx’s own DJ Kool Herc warmed up the crowd, whipping them up in a frenzy with a nice blend of old school and new school hip hop songs.

Marley Marl, who served as the emcee for the night, jumped on the ones and twos before passing it to the one and only cool DJ Red Alert. The two legends battled each other on the wheels of steel to be crowned king that night.

Kangol Kid took to the stage next bring out Queensbridge’s own Roxanne Shante. Shante, who was dolled up in a sexy pink top and thigh high knee boots, brought it back to the 80’s by bringing out the old school boombox with a wire hanger as an antennae. Yes, she brought it back. Whopping out to the Fat Boys, and LL Cool J’s ‘Around The Way Girl,’ Shante changed into white and gold shell top Adidas, doorknocker earrings (two pairs!) and a denim jacket with her face spray-painted on the back. Like I said, she brought it back.

Craig G, who just wrapped up a concert in Croatia earlier in the week, hopped on for a quick two songs before passing the mic on to old school hip-hop duo Nice N Smooth. The crowd stood up when Greg Nice and Smooth B took the stage. They rang through an array of hits including ‘Funky For You,’ ‘Hip-Hop Junkies’ and ‘Dwyck.’

Keeping the crowd on its feet was the energetic Doug E. Fresh. He jumped on the stage with a vigor in his step and entertained the crowd, going through hip hop classics like ‘The Show’ and ‘La Di Da Di.’ At one point Vicious joined Doug on stage for their smash hip-hop/dancehall hit ‘Freaks.’ As soon as the beat for Cali Swag District’s ‘Teach Me How To Dougie’ came on, Doug E. Fresh put the mic down to show the crowd exactly how to Dougie.

Brooklyn’s own Joell Ortiz came out to the stage next. The Slaughterhouse member, who recently slimmed down by losing over 40 lbs, flexed his lyrical skills on the mic. He personally made my night when he performed ‘Call Me,’ one of my favorite songs off of his Free Agent album.

Styles P closed out the night. The Yonkers rapper and LOX member kept the audience on its feet. Styles P, who frequently stresses the importance of health and physical activity, brought out the Bartendaz. Starting out in a Harlem park, The Bartendaz is a natural movement fitness group that uses a unique combination of military drills, calisthenics and break dancing to promote physical fitness.

Each performer that took to the stage reminded the crowd what brought us all together for the night: to celebrate HHC’s 37,000 employees, and help raise awareness about the important role public hospitals and healthcare facilities play in New York. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s series of events also will go Guns Down, Life Up, an initiative to combat gun violence.

A night of great hip-hop and some good in the hood…