The Tallahassee community gathered Friday for the “50 Years of Hip Hop” celebration concert at the Adderley Amphitheater in Cascades Park.
Hip-hop icons Doug E. Fresh and MC Lyte and local artists who have been in the industry for more than 20 years delivered fantastic performances at the celebration.
According to the North Florida Community Development Corporation, the concert was organized to represent a cultural milestone in Tallahassee and Leon County.
“It’s a celebration not only of hip hop’s evolution but also a resounding testament to the enduring values of community unity and cultural diversity,” according to the Tallahassee Arts Guide website.
T-Pain, the Grammy Award-winning artist and Tallahassee native, was scheduled to be honored and perform at the event, but he canceled after hearing negative comments from Leon County Commissioner Christian Caban in a public meeting earlier this week, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
Even though the rapper did not appear at the concert, hundreds of fans from around the city came to enjoy the celebration and watch other artists perform.
Dwayne Houston, a native of Tallahassee, found the concert informative and entertaining, even though he would have liked to see T-Pain perform.
“T-Pain not appearing was a bummer because I was expecting to see him, being that I know more of his music,” Houston said. “But the artists in attendance still put on a great show, and it was a great turnout.”
Rena McPherson, a native of St. Petersburg who moved to Tallahassee 29 years ago, also hoped to see a performance by T-Pain but still enjoyed the concert.
“The concert was amazing; I was in awe,” she said. “After learning why he did not come, I understood.”
The celebration commenced with a poem by students from Oak Ridge Elementary, honoring T-Pain and the Ridge Road area in which he grew up.
Following the poem, the four winners who participated in the Stop the Violence rap battle, held on Thursday night by Tallahassee Nights Live, were announced to receive cash prizes during the celebration.
FAMU’s Marching 100 band also performed several T-Pain hits, including “I’m Sprung,” “Dance Floor” and “Bartender” as a tribute to T-Pain.
DJ Demp and DJ Lil Boy from Leon County entertained the crowd throughout the celebration while they eagerly awaited the performances of Doug E. Fresh and MC Lyte.
As MC Lyte took the stage, fans throughout the crowd rose and went to the front for her performance.
She showcased many hits and shared a heartfelt message with her fans, expressing gratitude for their support over her 30-plus years in the industry.
To close out the celebration, Doug E. Fresh showcased his beat-boxing talents and paid homage to the Hip-Hop/Rap artists who have passed on throughout the 50-year history of the genre.
The event was open to the community, featuring local vendors and food trucks at the celebration.