PASS THE MIC LIVE AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
A night of all New York MCs performed at a show orchestrated by DJ Cassidy
Had a amazing day and night at Radio City Music Hall at the Pass the Mic 50th anniversary of hip hop show. Hosted and organized by DJ Cassidy, after his successful pandemic era broadcast on Twitch and BET, Pass the Mic is a mix tape of classic artists from either hip hop or R&B coordinated by the DJ to flow like a DJ set. He did his first live show in Newark a few months ago, but doing all New York MC concert in the heart of the Big Apple was a major feat. Over forty acts took the stage, from the Sugar Hill Gang to Special Ed, from Monie Love to CL Smooth in the first mix tape hour. The second section featured headliners Big Daddy Kane, Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick, Rakim and surprise guest KRS One.
I came on board to document the night with a crack film crew, not only interviewing the performers, but audience members, some of whom came in from down South and the Midwest, to witness this historic show. I have no idea when or how this footage will ultimately be used, but was happy to be able to talk to folks I hadn’t seen in years and capture some remarkable moments on and off stage.
Go to @djcassidy #passthemic and around the internet, where there is lots of smart phone footage from last night floating around.
A partial lineup of mics used at Radio City.
Interviewing Big Daddy Kane about Pass the Mic, hip hop 50 and his career on stage at Radio City.
From left to right - break dance icon Crazy Legs, Pass the Mic coordinator O’Neal McKnight, MC Serch, DJ Cassidy and Loud Records president/Pass the Mic promoter Steve Rifkind.
EPMD’s Parrish Smith and Paul George of Full Force backstage at Radio City.
Furious Five leader Melle Mel rocks the mic with DJ Cassidy on the turntables.