Baltimore – AFRAM in Baltimore is a few days away.
Between connecting with listeners in Baltimore at Magic 95, Ryan Da Lion is looking forward to this year’s AFRAM Festival kicking off at Druid Hill Park on Saturday.
“June is Black Music Month, and we are so excited to not only celebrate Black Music Month, but to do so at AFRAM, which is an amazing event every year,” Da Lion said.
Druid Hill Park returns to AFRAM Festival this year to mark hip-hop’s golden anniversary.
“When the mayor announced that the city of Baltimore was celebrating club music, the response was absolutely staggering,” Da Lion said. “I think it’s a testament to how much we appreciate what we do here in club music.”
Baltimore’s club music’s impact on hip-hop music and culture as a whole is often underestimated, but it cannot be underestimated.
Speaking in the halls of Radio One, radio personality Persia Nicole said that’s what makes this year so special.
“I feel like I can do a lot,” Nicole said. “Men can dance to it, women can dance to it. Children, honey, dogs, I’ve seen dogs dance to club music. It’s like, wait a minute, you have more rhythm than I do.”
AFRAM showcases the evolution of black culture and music while recognizing its vast reach.
“They got something to bridge the generation gap,” Nicole said. “They’ve given the old guys the Isley Brothers something, and they’ve got the smooth R&B Tamer Braxton and Eric Ballanger.”
AFRAM is another reason Baltimoreans are united.
WJZ is proud to be AFRAM’s Media Sponsor.
“Despite people thinking there is so much division and violence in this city, we are a city that loves each other. If you love me, I love you too,” Nicole said. I have,” he said. “We are having a great time. We love this kind of thing because it gives us the opportunity to recognize our culture and the wonderful things that come out of this city.”
Dennis Koch, Stephon Dingle, Nicky Zizaza and Rick Ritter come to AFRAM to introduce Ty Dollar Sign.
WJZ will stream headliner acts on Saturday and Sunday at wjz.com.
