On hip hop’s 50th birthday (Friday, August 11th, 2023) in hip hop’s birthplace (the Bronx, NY), the biggest names in the space will come together for a celebratory concert at Yankee Stadium billed as Hip Hop 50 Live.
Co-produced by Mass Appeal, Live Nation, and the New York Yankees, the milestone event will be led by Run DMC’s special “Bottom of the Ninth…The Walk-Off’” performance in addition to Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, and Ice Cube. Other highlights of the Hip Hop 50 Live lineup include a “Queens of Hip Hop” set featuring Eve, Lil Kim, Remy Ma, Trina, and more. Additional performers include T.I., Fat Joe, Common, A$AP Ferg, EPMD, Ghostface Killah, Lupe Fiasco, and Slick Rick. A “Pillars of Hip Hop” set honoring the genre’s originators will feature Kool Herc & Cindy Campbell, Grandmaster Caz, Kurtis Blow, Melle Mel, Roxanne Shante, Scorpio, and The Sugarhill Gang, and a “Legendary DJ” set will include Clark Kent, Marley Marl, Mannie Fresh, and Battlecat.
Emmy Award-winner and BASSic Black Entertainment CEO Adam Blackstone will serve as the managing creative music director for the event alongside producer/keyboardist Omar Edwards (music director for Jay-Z). Hip hop fans may remember Blackstone from his work as the music director for the Super Bowl LVI halftime show, during which he played bass alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and more.
“Aug 11th is Hip Hop’s 50th birthday! So…’Up in the Bronx’ where it all started we will be celebrating this historic moment in history!” Said Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of the event. “I am honored to pay tribute to the culture that allowed this little shy kid from Queens to grow up and become The Mighty King of Rock! Thank you Hip Hop!!!”
“I am honored to hit the stage in the Bronx, the birthplace of Hip Hop and celebrate all of my heroes,” added the Reverend Joseph “Run” Simmons.
Tickets for Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium on August, 11th, 2023 will become available beginning via various pre-sales on Thursday, June 8th from 10:00 a.m. ET until 10:00 p.m. ET. Remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 9th at 10:00 a.m. ET. Hip Hop 50 Live tickets will start as low as $50. Early-bird access to tickets will be granted via various organizations including Renaissance Youth Center, New Settlement, SCAN-Harbor, Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, North East Bronx YMCA, Castle Hill YMCA, New York Urban League, Hispanic Federation, Bronx Chamber of Commerce, Bronx Community Foundation, and CORO New York Leadership Center. For complete ticketing details, head here.
Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium is the latest announcement surrounding Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50 initiative, a massive cross-platform campaign that aims to celebrate the milestone anniversary in the most authentic and globally impactful way possible by acknowledging and recognizing hip hop as not only a genre but a movement that has impacted the worldwide community.
Watch the official teaser video for the event and check out the complete artist lineup below.
Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee Stadium – Official Teaser Video
[Video: Mass Appeal]
View this post on Instagram