Atlantic City’s hip-hop roots run deep

Able, 55, moved to Atlantic City at the age of three, when Club Harlem still existed until the club closed in 1986 after the 1972 shooting. I remember

“The last days of Club Harlem were in the formative years of hip-hop, with many veterans and legends performing there, including LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash, UTFO, Mantronics and early up-and-coming rappers. It was in the 1980s, 1983, 1984-1986,” Able said.

Some of these legendary rappers are set to return to the resort this weekend, as Jim Whelan’s Boardwalk Hall hosts a mixtape gig celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop on Saturday.

Maurice Gray, co-owner of Atlantic City’s Crown Records shop, is also co-owner of the production company Crown Records, which, in addition to Club Harlem, has produced Wonder Gardens and Martin Luther King, Jr. The school also held promotions and concerts.

Able said the flagship was also the venue for early hip-hop shows, with Salt and Peppa performing in Atlantic City many times with the late Heavy D.

According to Able, the video for Gang Starr and Nice & Smooth’s “Dwick” was filmed in Atlantic City in 1992, and parts of LL Cool J’s 1987 video for “I Need Love” are also included. It was filmed in Atlantic City.

“There was a time when Atlantic City was one of the designated hip-hop neighborhoods on a regular basis,” Able said.

The IMPACT Super Summit, a conference of African-American radio and recording industry executives, was held in 1993 at Bally’s Park Place in Atlantic City.

Rapper Guru of Brooklyn hip-hop duo Gang Starr will appear at the convention alongside jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd, performing a selection of songs from his 1993 jazz-rap fusion album, Glu’s Jazzmataz Vol. played the song.

For nearly 30 years, Able has had a radio show on Stockton University’s WLFR-FM 91.7, playing hip-hop and other music. We also hosted live open mic events featuring local and regional spoken word artists, singers and rappers.

Absecon resident Sean McCullough, 41, who goes by the stage name Sean Rock, graduated from Absegami High School in Galloway Township in 2000 at the age of 18 and is one of the rappers who once performed at Able’s live events. was a person Rock has been rapping ever since.

Rock said 80 to 85 percent of the performers at Able’s shows were local artists.

“Atlantic City has a big hip-hop community that’s often overlooked,” he says.

The Rock has released nearly 30 songs on streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal over the last nine years, and the song and video “Atlantic City” featuring Nina Blue is available on YouTube and has also been shown on Atlantic video screens. rice field. city ​​boardwalk. He will perform at the Atlantic City concert series at Gardner’s Basin on August 26th.

“I do it out of love, I do it because I can do it, and I do it for fun,” Rock said.

While South Jersey has not seen the rise of high-profile hip-hop performers, Atlantic County has produced some notable hip-hop producers and songwriters. They include:

• Rodney Jerkins45, the former Mays Landing and Galloway resident has worked with Ludacris, TLC, Mary J. Blige, and many R&B and pop artists.
• Darren “Limitless” Hensonfrom Atlantic City, and Ivan “Orthodox” VariasA former Atlantic City resident, he has worked with Skillz and many R&B and soul acts.
• Ronald “Flip” ColsonThe 33-year-old from Atlantic City has worked with Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Azealia Banks, YBN Cordae and R&B artists.
• Roy “Royalty” Hamilton IIIThe 43-year-old Galloway resident has worked with Nas, Guerrilla Black, R&B and pop artists.
• Chris Grayson40, Galloway, and katib muhammadThe 37-year-old Pleasantville resident is known as the producing and songwriting duo of Chris and Tieve, who have worked with 50 Cent, Salt and Pepa, Method Man & Redman, and R&B artists.
• Darhill “DJ” CamperThe 33-year-old is a former Mays Landing resident who has worked with Blige, Big Sean, and many R&B artists.
• Luke Witherspoon IIIa 34-year-old from Atlantic City, worked with big KRIT, R&B and pop artists.