Source: Richard Bord / Getty
As hip-hop is celebrated globally this year for its 50th anniversary, one thing that no one can deny is that rap would never have been able to take it this far if it weren’t for pioneers of the Golden Age.
Although the genre was first introduced during the mid ’70s, it took until 1979 before the music was even televised due to its association with inner-city issues and, well, general racism in America. However, things grew tenfold by the time hip-hop had reached the mid ’80s with emcees like Slick Rick, The Jungle Brothers, Public Enemy, KRS-One, the dynamic duo of Eric B. & Rakim and Roxanne Chanté as just some of the handful who helped elevate what it meant to be a lyricist. Guys like LL Cool J and Run-D.M.C. brought the commercial appeal to rap that we now see newer acts like Drake and Travis Scott benefitting astronomically from. For the ladies, Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa were two shining examples that proved women have voices behind the mic as well; now, female rap is all that anyone can talk about.
That’s why we had to give major props to seasoned mixmaster DJ Cassidy for using the latest stop on his Pass The Mic LIVE! Tour to unite 50 rap legends on one stage for an unforgettable blast from the past where it all started: New York City!
Source: Richard Bord / Getty
RELATED: Red Bull & Rakim Help Bring Breaking Culture Back To NYC
Setting up shop at the legendary Radio City Music Hall last Friday (July 21), DJ Cassidy gathered nearly every core rapper from hip-hop’s Golden Age and simply let them rip the stage with their biggest hits. Not a seat was left unfilled, and some even had to stand in the aisle in order to really get down they way they wanted to. Each act flowed after one another with such precision that it all felt like one big nonstop performance. Crowd cheers for The Sugar Hill Gang and Kurtis Blow, the first rapper signed to a major label, were equal in volume to the likes of Onyx, Brand Nubian and EPMD amongst others. Kid N’ Play did their classic House Party dance routine, Monie Love was rocking the stage “in the middle” as per usual and Naughty By Nature’s Treach had the entire venue’s undivided attention while spitting his group’s classic banger, “Hip-Hop Hooray.”
The headliners — whew! — they made it absolutely clear why each deserves a place on any proverbial Hip-Hop Mount Rushmore, with Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, the God MC himself Rakim and a double play by Slick Rick alongside Doug E. Fresh capping off a night where hip-hop shined gold for all to see.
Source: Jerritt Clark / Getty
See the full photo recap of DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic LIVE! Tour at Radio City Music Hall in NYC below, including a few pics from the exclusive afterparty hosted by Martell:
- Cathy Hughes Represents For Urban One On Variety’s “50 Greatest Hip-Hop Executives” List
- Spin Doctor: DJ Spinderella Shows Why She’s Hip-Hop’s #1 Female Mix Master
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
1. Treach of Naughty By Nature
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
2. Dres, KRS-ONE and Chi-Ali
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
3. O’Neal McKnight and Don Pooh
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
4. Kurtis Blow and Wonder Mike
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
5. Monie Love
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
6. Full Force
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
7. Lord Jamar
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
8. Erick Sermon and MC Serch
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
9. B-Boys Crazy Legs and Miguel “Bboy Gravity” Rosario
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
10. Big Daddy Kane and Parrish Smith
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
11. Fredro Starr, Sadat X, Lord Jamar, Dana Dane
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
12. Kool Moe Dee
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
13. Doug E. Fresh
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
14. DJ Cassidy
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
15. Radio City Music Hall Packed For DJ Cassidy’s ‘Pass The Mic LIVE!’
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
16. Doug E. Fresh and DJ Cassidy
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
17. Slick Rick
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
18. Lil Vicious
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
19. Rakim
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
20. KRS One and DJ Cassidy
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
21. Treach of Naughty by Nature
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
22. Kid ‘n Play
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
23. Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth and DJ Cassidy
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
24. Smooth B and Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
25. Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr of Onyx
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
26. CL Smooth
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
27. CL Smooth
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
28. Poc Fu of Fu-Schnickens
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
29. Chip Fu and Poc Fu of Fu-Schnickens
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
30. Grand Puba of Brand Nubian
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
31. Sadat X and Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
32. Sadat X of Brand Nubian
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
33. Monie Love
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
34. Mc Serch
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
35. Special Ed
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
36. Special Ed
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
37. Mc Shan
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
38. Roxanne Shante
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
39. Roxanne Shante
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
40. Dana Dane
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
41. Kool Moe Dee
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
42. Busy Bee
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
43. Kurtis Blow
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
44. Scorpio and GrandMaster Melle Mel
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
45. Barshon
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
46. Chi-Ali
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
47. Master Gee of Sugar Hill Gang
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
48. Wonder Mike and Diamond of Sugar Hill Gang
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
49. Kid ‘n Play
Source:Getty
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
50. Famed Stylist June Ambrose
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
51. Big Daddy Kane and DJ Cassidy
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
52. KRS-One and MC Shan
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
53. DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
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DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
54. DJ Cassidy and Grandmaster Melle Mel
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
55. Kurtis Blow
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
56. Greg Nice
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
57. DJ SNS and DJ Cassidy
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
58. Grandmaster Melle Mel
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
59. B-Boy Crazy Legs
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
60. Celebrity Stylist June Ambrose
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
61. Full Force and DJ Cassidy
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
62. Grandmaster Flash
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
63. Rakim, DJ Cassidy and Kurtis Blow
Source:JOCO Media
DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
July 21, 2023
Pass The Mic LIVE: DJ Cassidy United Hip-Hop’s Golden Age With 50 Rap Legends At Radio City In NYC was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
