Of the many influences of hip-hop, one of the most overlooked is how the culture shaped the geography of New York City. By the early ’80s, each borough had its own crew battling for the top spot in their region, recognizing that the Bronx and Harlem were cementing the top spot and fighting for third place. rice field. Here’s the cheat code, and neighborhood hoods who contributed by creeping were swallowed as honorary Bronxites, but it was down to how nice they were. Who would have thought that these regions would be proud of where they came from and seek identity? Well, these places had names. YO (YONKERS), Money Earnin’ (Mount Vernon) and last but not least, Strong Island (Long Island). Of course, this is a hypothetical description. But for some, it may contain some real facts. This meant that if you were lying outside the Boros, you had to show respect. Hip-hop historian and member of the group JVC FORCE, AJ ROK, can tell you about those days. His JVC Force, made up of DJ Kurt Cazale, AJ Rock and fellow host B-Luv, released the single “Strong Island” for the city and has not looked back since its 1987 release. AJ reflects on the impact he and his crew had on bringing light to Long Island: “Before our community song ‘Strong Island’ was sung, you had to be from almost five boroughs to be respected and taken seriously. “Strong Island enthralled” (which I sampled for the chorus), and Rakim told us “Rough enough to break New York from Long Island” and “The only island I was on, though, Even if you didn’t know they were from Long Island, you know that Stetsasonics DJ (and one of music’s most innovative producers) Prince Paul is from Long Island. When we made “Strong Island,” artists started representing Long Island. The song gave the region a certain sense of pride. The region, he argues, is the equivalent of any neighborhood, not a city, in the lore of hip-hop. What gave his ideas credibility was the venue where he was speaking. On June 11th, AJ will host a special Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary concert and panel discussion featuring Son of Bazerk, DJ Jazzy Jay, Miloindedance from Leaders Of The New School, DINCO D, Johnny Juice and Ralph McDaniels from Video Music Box. was one of the celebrities who attended , and Keith Shockley, producer of the legendary Public Enemy of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame.
As he surveyed the talent in the room physically and through historical relics, a beaming AJ nostalgically continued. . Long Island has a rich and diverse history in hip hop. From rebellious Public Enemy protests and black pride, Rakim literally changed the vocal structure of hip-hop and De La Soul themed ghettos where hip-hop was filled with artists living big gold chains and gangsta fantasies. Combining West Coast funk sounds with East Coast rhymes, EPMD changed the game by proving it could be so much more than just plain lyrics. It’s just right to embrace and celebrate hip-hop. ”
These eclectic styles within the rap music genre alone are remarkable for what the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame proclamation means. “We wanted to create a space that was more inclusive of the diversity of entertainers from Long Island,” says music historian and founding member of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, Norm Pruslin. Established in 2004, the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame is dedicated to the belief that Long Island’s music and entertainment heritage is an important resource to be celebrated and preserved for future generations. The organization, which includes Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings (Brooklyn) counties in New York State, was established as a community place to inspire and explore Long Island music and entertainment in all its forms. In 2022, the first Hall of Fame building opened in Stony Brook His Village, and the idea finally came to fruition as an actual brick-and-mortar facility. To date, it provides educational programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island students and educators, and has enrolled more than 120 musicians and music industry executives, some of whom were enshrined in a ceremony. Fatboys are also included.
We’ll let you know more about the event in the coming weeks. I need to report it now. Until then, enjoy the city at night.