Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts today announced details for Hip-Hop Week, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the art form, taking place from August 9-12, to close out the second annual Summer for the City festival.
Featuring a wide range of events, performances, and workshops, the week will showcase Hip-Hop’s dynamic and seismic impact on contemporary art, music, dance, fashion, and culture since its 1973 inception in the Bronx.
Hip-Hop Week kicks off on August 9 with a Dance Storytime in The Garden at Damrosch Park, led by internationally renowned choreographer TweetBoogie and DJ Go BIZZY!, combining beats and books for an activity the whole family can enjoy.
Audiences are invited to The Dance Floor that same evening for We Out Here, a dance battle and silent disco presented on The Dance Floor in collaboration with the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in homage to the legendary breaking battle of 1981 between Rock Steady Crew and Dynamic Rockers.
The first night of Hip-Hop Week concludes in Damrosch Park with Brooklyn DJ and producer J.PERIOD’s Live Mixtape: Gods & Kings Edition, a commemoration of 2023's golden anniversary with performances from two of New York’s most legendary emcees, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane, along with more special surprise guests.
“We recognize and celebrate the profound significance of Hip-Hop as a powerful New York-born culture. It connects generations and propels a number of contemporary art forms,” said Shanta Thake, Ehrenkranz Chief Artistic Officer of LCPA. “We’re proud to join New York City to honor the energy, innovation, and excellence of this community.”
All Hip-Hop Week events are free with first-come, first-served admission. Free Fast Track lines are offered for select events to gain priority access to the event ahead of the general admission line. For more information on Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary and Lincoln Center’s summer programming, visit SummerfortheCity.org.
Performances and interactive events continue throughout the week with local and international artists including:
● Sainted: A Trap Choir Experience, offering audiences an eclectic range of gospel, R&B, Hip-Hop, and trap music, paying homage to the Southern Black Church experience.
● Jazz Está Morto, featuring the first-ever NYC performance by Brazilian composer Arthur Verocai and his 1972 seminal self-titled debut album, sampled by the likes of MFDoom, Ludacris, Common, Action Bronson, and more. Hosted by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest).
● A dance lesson and performances by the Ladies of Hip-Hop Dance Collective.
● Participatory social dance events, silent discos, battles, and workshops.
● A closing night concert in Damrosch Park headlined by “The God MC” Rakim featuring Grammy Award-nominated emcee Rapsody and other special guests, followed by a silent disco led by Mr. Life Of Your Party fka DJ FLY TY.
The Summer for the City outdoor film series held in Damrosch Park will include “Can’t Stop the Street: Hip-Hop on Screen,” a five-film sidebar presented by Film at Lincoln Center that began on June 22 and continues through July 12. This series pays tribute to the many ways Hip-Hop’s history, cultural innovations, and guiding creative voices have influenced and intersected with American cinema over the last half-century.
The Music and Recorded Sound Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts curates case installations displaying objects from its collection demonstrating the influence of Hip-Hop on mainstream culture. The show will contain archival and ephemeral items, as well as artwork, periodicals, and album covers that are part of the Library's collection.
Accommodations for Summer for the City include accessible seating; accessible entrances; all gender and gendered restrooms with accessible stalls; higher weight capacity armed chairs; FM Assistive Listening Devices; hearing loop installed in performances spaces in David Geffen Hall; alternatives to standing in line for entry; tactile maps; noise-reducing headphones, earplugs, and fidgets to borrow; relaxed performances; and Chill Out Spaces, offering reduced noise and visual stimulation, for guests to take a break and reenter when they’re ready. Visual directions, describing arrival instructions for neurodiverse communities, will be available online. Lincoln Center also offers an Access Concierge Service, with representatives trained to support guests with disabilities, and providing one on one support for individual guests and their parties. To request this service, contact guestexperience@lincolncenter.org or 212-875-5456 at least one week before attending an event. Guests are welcome to request additional accommodations for specific events.
Hip-Hop Week Programming
Thursday, June 29 at 9:00pm
Damrosch Park
Film at Lincoln Center
Having already made a name for himself as former classmate Spike Lee’s go-to cinematographer over the preceding decade, in 1992 Ernest R. Dickerson embarked on his own directorial career with Juice, a propulsive, noir-tinged coming-of-age drama starring Omar Epps as Q, a Harlem teen and aspiring DJ whose talents at the turntable seem to promise an authentic means of thriving within, and perhaps transcending, the material confines of his working-class upbringing. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old Tupac Shakur, fresh off the success of his debut album—with which he had swiftly established his own status as a bona fide star, and a leading figure in the ascendant genre of politically conscious West Coast rap—delivers a tour de force performance as Bishop, the mercurial wild card of Q’s tight-knit crew of friends, who harbors a hot temper and a budding violent streak that threatens to derail Q’s musical ambitions and place the futures of all four young men in jeopardy. With an assured hand and cool virtuosity, Dickerson reconsiders the themes and real-world concerns that were animating Hip-Hop culture at the time, refracting them through a distinctly cinematic lens.
Friday, June 30 at 9:00pm
Damrosch Park
Film at Lincoln Center
Co-writers and producers Ice Cube and DJ Pooh originally envisioned Friday as a boisterous corrective to the despairing hood dramas that proliferated in the pop-cultural landscape of the early ’90s, most of which emphasized violent conflict and ingrained hopelessness as endemic conditions of the inner-city milieu. First-time feature filmmaker F. Gary Gray, who had recently come up in the industry as an acclaimed director of music videos, handily translated his talents to the longer narrative format in order to chronicle a sprawling day in the life of newly unemployed Craig (Ice Cube) and his stoner friend Smokey (Chris Tucker) as the two South Central residents scramble to settle a $200 debt with their drug dealer. A riotously funny high-water mark in the tradition of successful Hip-Hop artists pivoting to assume the role of Hollywood auteur, Friday quickly achieved the status of genuine cult hit, equally celebrated for its affectionate, lived-in evocation of life in the hood and for its chart-topping, double-platinum soundtrack.
Wednesday, July 12 at 9:00pm
Damrosch Park
Film at Lincoln Center
Wild Style Introduced by Charlie Ahearn
Celebrated as a foundational depiction of early Hip-Hop culture—and one of the first to engage cinematically with the lives and perspectives of the young people whose creativity fueled its development—Wild Style was conceived as a collaboration between young No Wave filmmaker Charlie Ahearn and the renowned street artist Fab 5 Freddy. The loose narrative follows Raymond (played by fellow practitioner Lee Quiñones), a precocious teenage graffiti writer in the Bronx known by the pseudonym “Zoro,” and his friend Phade (Fab 5 Freddy), a club promoter, as they navigate a scene fraught with artistic rivalries and a creative community that’s ambivalent about the interest it’s attracting from the upper-crust art world. Filling out the cast with the Rock Steady Crew, Grandmaster Flash, and other pioneering talents of early Hip-Hop culture playing versions of themselves, Ahearn’s film offers an extraordinary semi-documentary portrait of a vibrant cultural movement in its first flowering. A New Directors/New Films 1983 selection.
Wednesday, August 9 at 11:30 am
The Garden at Damrosch Park
When the Beat was Born: Dance Storytime with Hip-Hop dance artist TweetBoogie and DJ Go BIZZY! together celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop
Presented in collaboration with New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
The staff of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division and internationally renowned dance teacher and artist TweetBoogie and DJ Go BIZZY! present a storytime focusing on the music and dancing styles of Hip-Hop. Beats and books combine for an activity that the whole family can enjoy. Participants will listen to the story, When the Beat was Born: DJKool Herc and the Creation of Hip-Hop by Laban Carrick Hill, and learn a short dance routine to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.
Wednesday, August 9 at 6:00 pm
The Dance Floor at Josie Robertson Plaza
Presented in collaboration with New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
To celebrate the recording of five street dance life story interviews by the Dance Oral History Project of the Jerome Robbins Dances Division at the Library for the Performing Arts, Gabriel “Kwikstep” Dionisio and Ana 'Rokafella' Garcia bring together the legendary Violeta Galagarza, Anthony G. "Cholly Rock" Horne, Kim D. Holmes, Float Master John, and Emilio Austin Jr. aka Buddha Stretch for a dance battle and silent disco on The Dance Floor. Different street and club styles will be on display as the invited Top eight competitors go toe-to-toe for a cash prize. Hosted by TDK Zone with DJ KS 360, come outside and check out NYC's finest as we help celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop!
This event will be preceded by a screening of oral history clips and a panel discussion at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Wednesday, August 9 at 8:00 pm
Damrosch Park
J.PERIOD Live Mixtape: Gods & Kings Edition
Featuring Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Special Guests
Brooklyn DJ and producer J.PERIOD (The Hamilton Mixtape) is renowned for his "audio-biography" mixtapes—featuring icons like Nas, Q-Tip, Lauryn Hill, and The Roots—which have solidified his reputation as a top-tier producer, a trusted collaborator, and a groundbreaking musical historian. His long-running performance series J.PERIOD Live Mixtape transforms the traditional Hip-Hop stage show into a high-energy moment of record, captured live onstage in one take. On August 9, Lincoln Center continues its celebration of 50 years of Hip-Hop with J.PERIOD Live Mixtape: Gods & Kings Edition, a commemoration of 2023's golden anniversary with performances from two of New York’s most legendary emcees, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane, along with more special surprise guests.
This performance integrates ASL-interpretation.
Thursday, August 10 at 7:00 pm
The Dance Floor at Josie Robertson Plaza
Ladies of Hip-Hop Dance Collective
Get your groove on at New York City’s largest outdoor dance floor with a 10-foot disco ball and celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary with the Ladies of Hip-Hop, an all-female collective dedicated to empowering girls and women in Hip-Hop culture. Enjoy a summer celebration of Hip-Hop dance culture with DJs, a dance lesson, and even a performance or two!
Friday, August 11 at 7:00 pm
Damrosch Park
Jazz Está Morto: Arthur Verocai with Orchestra
ArtDontSleep, World Music Institute, and Lincoln Center join Jazz Is Dead to present the first-ever NYC performance by Arthur Verocai. Accompanied by a full orchestra, Verocai will travel from his native Brazil to perform his 1972 seminal self-titled debut album in its entirety. Sampled by MF Doom, Ludacris & Common, Little Brother, Action Bronson, Curren$y, and countless others, the album is a staple for Hip-Hop producers and is now considered a “holy grail” within the crate-digging community. Hosted by composer, arranger, and music producer Adrian Younge and DJ, record producer, and rapper Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) in Damrosch Park, Jazz Está Morto will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience one of the greatest Brazilian arrangers/composers of all time.
Friday, August 11 at 10:00 pm
The Dance Floor at Josie Robertson Plaza
In the summer of 1973, Bronx DJ Kool Herc spun tunes at a backyard block party and kicked off a musical and cultural movement. Flash forward to today, that legacy continues in this evening with DJ Spinna, a founding member of The Jigmastas who has worked with everyone from Mary J. Blige to Stevie Wonder, and DJ Cocoa Chanelle, a native Brooklynite, recording artist, and radio personality (Hot 97 and Kiss FM) named one of the top 17 DJs by Vibe Magazine. Jam with us at a Silent Disco in honor of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop!
Saturday, August 12 at 11:00 am
The Art of Wellbeing
LeFrak Lobby, David Geffen Hall
Presented in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Perfect for anyone looking to learn the styles and moves of some of the most popular social dances, this unique workshop incorporates wellness, movement, and joy! Based on popular dances born from African American & Diasporic culture and celebrating Hip-Hop Week, this class will provide a space for participants to connect with their bodies, minds, and community through movement.
Led by experienced instructor Ethel Calhoun, the class will begin with exercises that include elements of mindfulness and breathwork, before engaging participants in a variety of social dance forms from swing, salsa, soca, Hip-Hop, and more. Experience is not necessary; the instructor will guide guests through each step to help them feel comfortable on the floor, creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all.
Saturday, August 12 at 11:00 am
Hess Grand Promenade, David Geffen Hall
Join a hands-on, creative Pre-Show Family Workshop led by Lincoln Center Teaching Artists! Open to visitors of all ages and ability levels who are excited and curious to explore art-making inspired by the performance that follows.
This performance integrates ASL-interpretation.
Saturday, August 12 at 12:00 pm
Hess Grand Promenade, David Geffen Hall
A Party Featuring Rap’s Next Generation
Lincoln Center’s celebration of Hip-Hop looks to the future with the Art of the Cypher for kids, teens, and families. Cyphers, improvisational circles where rappers share their freestyle skills, are a foundational Hip-Hop tradition. Join host Dr. Chris Emdin, founder of #HipHopEd, for a rap Cypher and Hip-Hop celebration featuring some of our city’s talented teen rappers selected especially for their exceptional rap prowess. Before the show, take part in a hands-on, creative Pre-Show Family Workshop led by Lincoln Center Teaching Artists! Open to visitors of all ages and ability levels for art-making inspired by the performance.
This performance integrates ASL-interpretation.
Generous support for this event provided by Amazon.
Saturday, August 12 at 5:00 pm
Hearst Plaza
Every year, nearly 100 teams and more than 1,000 young people audition for Step It Up NYC, a program designed to create positive change across all five boroughs. A program of the City of New York’s Department of Youth and Community Development, Step It Up began in 2009 as a youth engagement program focused on fusing the passion to move with the drive to create change. This year’s teen dance groups were challenged to incorporate themes of celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop and minimizing violence within NYC communities. And this year, the winning team premieres their final dance routine at Lincoln Center, sharing their piece with you, perfected, fine-tuned and ready for the big stage!
Saturday, August 12 at 6:00 pm
The Dance Floor at Josie Robertson Plaza
Sainted: A Trap Choir Experience
Featuring DJ Fannie Mae
Founded by international sensation DJ Fannie Mae and Grammy Award-nominated songwriter and producer Dennis Reed, Sainted is a trap choir offering audiences an eclectic range of gospel, R&B, Hip-Hop, and trap music. Paying homage to the Southern Black Church experience, Sainted highlights the spectrum of Black musical excellence throughout the decades and takes you on a journey that identifies Black Church music as the bedrock of countless musical traditions. Through a combination of scholarly and formal training, along with a unique improvisational approach to music learned in the Black Church, the ensemble reinvents choral norms. Audiences will experience this vibrant celebration of a full choir accompanied by a live band, original choreography, and DJ Fannie Mae herself on the decks.
Saturday, August 12 at 8:00 pm
Damrosch Park
Rakim + Rapsody & Special Guests
No serious conversation about history's top five rappers can be had without mentioning Rakim. A technical innovator whose use of internal rhyme and complex lyrics helped the form evolve, Rakim remains your favorite emcee's favorite emcee nearly forty years after his debut. With his partner DJ Eric B, Rakim's record releases in the 1980s and 90s established him as a world-class storyteller whose calculated flow and extended use of metaphor set the bar for future generations. As part of Lincoln Center's series of shows honoring Hip-Hop's 50th anniversary, The God MC headlines the big stage at Damrosch Park for a concert of classic cuts, supported by a select roster of special guests, including Rapsody. The Jamla/Roc Nation artist has spent the better part of the present decade lapping peers and counterparts while mesmerizing fans who still prefer their rhymes detailed and nutritious. One-of-a-kind Bed-Stuy native Mr. Life Of Your Party fka DJ FLY TY gets the party started as opening act, and extends the night leading a Silent Disco at 10pm. Don't miss this once-in-a-generation celebration of an eternal exemplar of New York's Hip-Hop excellence!
This performance integrates ASL-interpretation.
Saturday, August 12 at 10:00 pm
The Dance Floor at Josie Robertson Plaza
Silent Disco: Mr. Life Of Your Party fka DJ FLY TY
Our celebration of Hip-Hop Week culminates in a Silent Disco led by Mr. Life Of Your Party fka DJ FLY TY! Brooklyn’s own, born and raised, from Bedford Stuyvesant, Mr. Life Of Your Party – the name speaks for itself! He’s played drums since age 12, performing since 18; he brings life to everyone’s party as soon as he steps into the room! From clubs to venues, churches to houses, blocks to businesses… and now straight to you at Lincoln Center!
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About Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (LCPA) is a cultural and civic cornerstone of New York City. The primary advocate for the entire Lincoln Center campus, our strategic priorities include: fostering collaboration and deepening impact across the Lincoln Center resident organizations; championing inclusion and increasing the accessibility and reach of Lincoln Center’s work; and nurturing innovation on stage and off to help ensure the arts are at the center of civic life for all. LCPA presents hundreds of programs each year, offered primarily for free and choose-what-you-pay, including many specially designed for young audiences, families, and those with disabilities.
