After 25
years in the game, a living legend returns to hold down the Festival.
For the
third straight year legendary VJ and Hip-Hop pioneer Ralph McDaniels will serve
as host of the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival.
Uncle Ralph, as he is also affectionately known, has been hosting the Brooklyn
Hip-Hop Festival since it moved to Empire
Fulton Ferry
State Park in 2006. More
than just a host Ralph has been an ambassador for the Festival. "A student
of Hip-Hop will know that you cannot underestimate the importance of Ralph
McDaniels and Video Music Box. He saw the need to archive and document our
culture before MTV, and before YouTube. Without him I am not sure Hip-Hop as an
art form or as a business would be the multi- billion dollar industry that it
is. We are his children and the Festival is a continuation of the trailblazing
spirit manifested by Ralph and all of our other elders," Wes Jackson,
Festival Chair and
Executive
Director.
Uncle Ralph
is also celebrating 25 years of Video Music Box, his groundbreaking music video
show. In the 80's, Video Music Box was the only place to see music videos for
much of New York City.
Before Yo MTV Raps!, or 106th and Park there was one game in town, Video Music
Box. Video Music Box gave Ralph the platform to help launch the careers of Jay
Z, Black Moon, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS ONE, De La Soul, Leaders Of The New
School and more. In addition to continuing to host and produce Video Music Box,
Ralph also hosts "The Bridge" on WNYC. "The Bridge" focuses
on classic videos and interviews from legendary groups and artists.
The
Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival takes place July 10th - 12th Ralph McDaniels will be
hosting the Main Day at Empire Fulton Ferry State Park on July 12th
Tickets are available at Fat Beats NYC, Halcyon in DUMBO, Brooklyn and via www.brooklyn bodega.com, the
Festival's home site.