Calling all Boom-bappers, Breakers, Crunkers, Freestylers, G-funkers, and Trappers!
Queens Botanical Garden will celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 2 pm to 4 pm.
The family-friendly event features music by a disk jockey, a break dance battle among youths, and walk and talk with SherwinThe Artist, who has some pleasant surprises in store.
Though born in the West Indies, SherwinTheArtist is well-known in the borough. He created A Cypher In Queens in Socrates Sculpture Park and Going Back to the Meadows: A Tribute to LL Cool J and Performance at FMCP, as well as pieces for Queens Central Library and LaGuardia Airport’s Marine Air Terminal.
The Golden Jubilee celebration is included in the QBG admission price, which is $6 for adults. Seniors (62 plus) and students can attend for $4, while children (three and under) are free.
Here’s the schedule.
2 pm to 2:30 pm: DJ music starts. Trivia question #1.
2:30 pm to 2:50 pm: Dynasty Breaking Youth exhibition battle. Trivia question #2.
3 pm to 3:30 pm: SherwinTheArtist walk and talk to sculpture. Trivia question #3.
3:40 pm to 4 pm: The Kingdom Dance Company performance and audience dance lesson. Trivia answers and prizes.
Many music historians contend that Hip Hop began in the Bronx in the 1970s, but Queens has a solid claim to being the genre’s birthplace, as no other county in the entire United States has raised as many legendary performers. They include LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Nas, 50 Cent, Salt-N-Pepa, A Tribe Called Quest (Phife Dawg + Q-Tip), Mobb Deep (Prodigy + Havoc), Roxanne Shante, Ja Rule, Capone-N-Noreaga, Kool G Rap, and Nicki Minaj.
QBG’s main entrance is at 43-50 Main St. in Flushing. There’s onsite parking for $15 in QBG’s lot at 42-80 Crommelin St.
Top image: Rob MacKay; bottom image: Socrates Sculpture Park