50th Anniversary of Hip Hop Launches “Hip Hop Is Black History” Pop-Up at City Point, Brooklyn Feb. 24-26
By Gary Symons
Editor in Chief
Bust out your best sneakers, as music icon Ice-T hosts a special event for the upcoming Hip Hop Is Black History Event.
Billed as the Black Tie and Sneaker Ball, the event will be held during the three-day pop-up art installation at City Point in Brooklyn, part of an all-year extravaganza by the team running the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop. That team includes Legends Recordings, Beats Rhymes and Relief, and the licensing agency The Brand Liaison.
If you’re in the New York area from Feb. 24 through 26, this promises to be a can’t-miss event. Those lucky enough to attend the Opening Night party at Licensing Expo will know that 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop really knows how to throw a party, as they enticed the hip hop legends The Sugar Hill Gang to be the feature act for that event, held poolside at The Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas.
This installation is celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop and Black History Month through the lens of social justice.
“Hip Hop is Black History and our mission through this exhibit is to uplift 50 years of Hip Hop through a social justice lens and live art show,” said Beats Rhymes and Relief founder Rameen Aminzadeh. “We are thrilled to be presenting this point of view with our synergistic partners—DA SPOT and City Point.”
The installation will be part of the 3rd Annual Black Creatives + Culture Market curated and hosted by DA SPOT NYC (“DA SPOT”) and City Point. Steven Heller from Brand Liaison and I have been chatting about the event all week, and the only down side I can see is that I can’t actually be there this time!
Highlighting Black excellence, spotlighting local creativity, and amplifying the impact of hip hop culture, the event will take place on Feb. 24 – Feb. 26 at City Point, located at 445 Albee Square West in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. The celebration will conclude at the Black Tie and Sneaker Ball, where host Ice-T will present the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, with an award for his commitment to the hip hop industry. The three days of programming are free and open to the public, although the Black Tie and Sneaker Ball are by invitation-only.
Pro tip: If you know any of the organizers, now’s the time to make a call and try to get on the guest list!
One of the hosting groups is the retail outlet known as DA SPOT, which was founded in 2017 by Michelle Cadore and Frantz “Face” Farnolle.
DA SPOT is a platform for creativity which supports emerging BIPOC businesses and artists. The City Point retail store features 25+ creative brands and a custom printing business. In 2019, Tyler Jordan joined the team, adding C.A.N.V.A.S. art gallery to the business. DA SPOT hosts creative workshops, business panels, and live performances with partners including the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, MasterCard, New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden, Goldman Sachs, Shea Moisture / Unilever, and others.
Market curator and founder Michelle Cadore says the upcoming event will be a major highlight for the business.
“At DA SPOT, we create to elevate,” Cadore said. “Since launching Black Creatives + Culture in 2021, our goal has been to empower Black business owners by providing visibility, economic opportunities, and community connections.
“Two years later, we are honored to partner with Beats, Rhymes and Relief in celebration of New York City’s 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop.”
As part of NYC Mayor Eric Adams ambitious goal of producing 50 events in NYC for 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop, Legends Recordings and Beats Rhymes and Relief will introduce events and experiences throughout the year. The Brand Liaison is the licensing agency for the campaign, and will continue to launch exclusive merchandise and licensing for the cause.
The Brand Liaison To Lead Licensing For The 50th Anniversary Of Hip Hop