Home / Arts and Entertainment / Cleveland Hip-Hop Fest Celebrates 40 Years
Cleveland Hip-Hop Fest Celebrates 40 Years
21 Aug
Summary
- Festival features live music, food, and cultural marketplace.
- Celebrates 40 years of Cleveland hip-hop pioneer Kevin "MC Chill" Heard.
- Performances include Lords of the Underground and Roxanne Shante.
The African American Heritage & Cultural Celebration returns this Saturday, running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This vibrant festival will be held at the Western Reserve Historical Society and offers free admission with registration.
The event will feature live music from Cleveland native Lord Jazz, a founding member of Lords of the Underground, and reggae mainstay Carlos Jones & The P.L.U.S. Band. Hip-hop icon Roxanne Shante is also scheduled for a special appearance.
A major highlight is the 40th anniversary celebration of Cleveland hip-hop pioneer Kevin "MC Chill" Heard. Heard holds the distinction of being the first Cleveland emcee to secure a record deal with a New York label, Fever Records. His hit song "Bust This Rhyme" reached #70 on the Billboard Top 100, a first for a Cleveland rapper on the pop charts. He also pioneered collaborations by uniting the New York and Cleveland hip-hop scenes with his song "M.C. Story."
