Hip-hop’s 50th anniversary takes over Fulton Street, commemorative MetroCards ready

The boroughs last weekend kicked off a slew of events to celebrate the historic 50th Anniversary of hip-hop, the legendary genre of music that took America by storm, with artists like the Notorious B.I.G, and Pop Smoke Brooklyn natives, who both died tragically.

Mayor Eric Adams, who spearheaded a series of hip-hop block parties to celebrate the genre’s 50th anniversary, said the parties would celebrate community gatherings and the origin of hip-hop — among them, 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx. The Sedgwick Avenue site is cited as the birthplace of hip-hop, with DJ Kool Herc as the father of the genre.

In Brooklyn, the corner of Fulton Street and Washington Avenue was packed with fans on Saturday, during an hours-long celebration that featured the music of the acclaimed hip-hop artist Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls in Clinton Hill, where he grew up, and where a statue was recently unveiled, and a graffiti image is plastered on a wall. 

A large crowd of fans took over Fulton Street, downtown Brooklyn to celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th.Photo by Tangerine Clarke

Audrey Jackson the mother of legendary rapper, Pop Smoke, real name, Bashar Barakah Jackson, lit up the stage with memories of her son as his music revved up the crowd at a titled: 5X5 Block Party Series Celebrating Hip-Hop’s 50th on the street. Ms. Jackson continues to work to prevent gun violence.

Pop Smoke was a native of Canarsie. 

Some of the featured legends of the music included KRS-One, Maesta Aced, Dres from Black Sheep, Da Bush, Smif-N-Wessun, and many others.

The commemoration that also hosted a marketplace of black owned businesses along four blacks of Fulton Street featured double-Dutch skipping participation, food trucks, spray painting of Hip-Hop’s 50 on clothing, and dancing in the street. 

The exciting atmosphere certainly captured the essence of the renowned lovable music, and tribute give to it in Clinton Hill.

At the same time, according to several reports, the MTA has started selling commemorative 50th anniversary hip-hop new MetroCards. A total of 40,000 cards will feature portraits of famous hip-hop artists like LL Cool J and Pop Smoke.

One of the many DJs revving up the crowd at the Block Party Series Celebrating Hip-Hop’s 50th on Fulton Street, downtown Brooklyn on Aug. 5.Photo by Tangerine Clarke

The MTA says they will only be available through vending machines at certain stations. The LL Cool J cards will be at Forest Hills E, F, M and R subways. The Pop Smoke cards are available at Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway L train and the New Lots Avenue, 3 train subway station.

The MTA also says 40,000 more cards will become available this month systemwide. Those cards will feature icons like Rakim and Cam’ron.