Baltimore born and D.C.-schooled Mumu Fresh brought her characteristic energy to the show. She has a very diverse musical background, ranging from jazz, gospel, spirituals, traditional African and traditional Indigenous music, to hip-hop, soul, rock and experimental acapella fusion. At the Hip-Hop Block Party, she also surprised the audience with some classic blues vocals.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture held its second Hip-Hop Block Party Saturday, and this time, it had a big reason to celebrate: the 50th anniversary of hip-hop as a musical genre.
Hip-hop started in the Bronx, specifically, as the story goes, at a back-to-school house party thrown by Cindy Campbell and her brother Clive, aka DJ Kool Herc. This past weekend brought a ton of shows around the country to mark the occasion — including a blockbuster event in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium featuring more than 8 hours of music from legends such as Run DMC, members of Wu-Tang Clan, Snoop Dog, Li’l Kim, and others.
In D.C., in addition to the block party, the Lincoln Theatre celebrated many of hip-hop’s local legends with a DMV Hip-Hop at 50 show Saturday night.
At the the Smithsonian museum, the Hip-hop Block Party drew crowds from as far away as New York and Virginia Beach — and at least one group of German tourists. Here are some of the highlights:
Friends Wanda Evans, Andra S. Morris and Valerie H. Hurt drove up from the Virginia Beach area in matching outfits emblazoned with “80s” and “90s” reflecting their heyday with hip-hop.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
The event sold out in minutes, and the crowd built throughout the day until the evening’s headliners went on stage.
The crowd packed the grounds around the National Museum of African American History and Culture during the night’s performances.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
The lineup included many local artists as well, including DJs such as Miss H.E.R., who developed a passion for music at a young age and has spun sets alongside some of the greatest hip hop DJs of all time, including as DJ Jazzy Jeff, J. Period, Lord Finesse, and DJ Scratch.
Miss H.E.R. spins at the Hip-Hop Block Party Saturday. She was voted Best Twitch DJ for 2021 by the Washington City Paper.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
The main stage had a full lineup, including a “Ladies First” set featuring Mumu Fresh, Monie Love, Remy Ma, and Queen Latifah; and DJ and super-producer Kid Capri.
Queen Latifah was one of several artists who performed during a “Ladies First” set backed by J Period. The first lady of hip-hop got the crowd roaring as J Period coaxed her to sing about her origins with the song “Jersey.”Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
Another local DJ who performed early in the day was Marc Nfinit, a local DJ and Howard grad who is also a music producer and engineer.
The Hip-Hop Block Party also had space for local and emerging artists, including DJ Marc Nfinit, who played one of the first sets at the Block Party. Nfinit is a producer, engineer, and DJ, a graduate of Howard University.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
Outside, people braved the heat for Double Dutch on the grounds, food vendors, merch tents, and to contribute to a mural.
Nora Nax, visiting from Mannheim, Germany tries her hand at Double Dutch. Nax was riding the bus with her family when her daughter started talking to a D.C. resident who told them where she was going. Their curiosity spiked, Nora and her family joined their new friend and spent the day at the NMAAHC. Like hip-hop, Double Dutch in its modern incarnation started in New York.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
There were also events inside the museum, including hip-hop trivia, film screenings, and live poem-writing by a trio of local poets.
In the tradition of Black poets who have been truth-tellers, the event’s typewriter poets, from left to right, Eve Greenlow, Anthony McPherson, and Lyrical Faith would write poems for attendees in minutes, based on the few facts an attendee told them.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
The day also started with fitness classes, including hip-hop yoga and cardio in the museum’s lobby.
DJ CurlySue, background, and Jordan Jackson of FitDC led attendees through an energetic hip-hop-infused workout before the main performers came on stage. Yoga and other activities were held indoors in the air-conditioned main lobby of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
Remy Ma double-booked her weekend, appearing at the Hip-Hop Block Party in D.C. the day after performing at the Yankee Stadium concert Friday night.
Bronx-bred Grammy-nominated Remy Ma was a hit with the crowd at the NMAAHC event.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
The crowd was amped up for a set from Kid Capri, a Bronx native and longtime music producer who gave the crowd what they wanted: old-school hip-hop.
From left to right, Bianca Norman, Quierma Luck, and Khrehaan Ebah enjoy their front row positions during Kid Capri’s set.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
D.C. was also represented by one of its greats of go-go, Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott from EU, who performed with Jinger Snapp and Adam Blackstone.
The multifaceted musician Adam Blackstone, left, in a nod to his jazz musician father, started his set with jazz and ended it in concert with D.C. native and go-go legend Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott, right, and Jinger Snapp. Sugar Bear played his Grammy-nominated hit “Da Butt” and a number of go-go infused hits much to the delight of the audience. Sugar Bear’s band, EU, performed at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
Queen Latifah, Mumu Fresh, Remy Ma, and Monie Love team up as part of the “Ladies First” set backed by J Period.
Queen Latifah, Mumu Fresh, Remy Ma, and Monie Love on stage during the “Ladies First” set at the Hip-hop Block Party at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.Mukul Ranjan / DCist/WAMU
Rebecca Cooper
