Summer Jam 2011 Recap of Recaps: Reviews, Photos, Videos

The New York area’s annual hip hop and R&B concert extravaganza, Summer Jam, is over. The megaconcert, presented by New York’s Hot 97 radio station, routinely fills the Meadowlands stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey, and this year was no exception, as a sold-out audience flocked to the arena to witness mainstream heavyweights like Lil Wayne, Drake, Rick Ross and Chris Brown. We’ve got a round-up of reviews, recaps, photos and videos for your viewing pleasure.

This year, for the first time, the Hot 97 Summer Jam concert was simulcasted live over the internet, as tens of thousands who couldn’t physically be at the stadium were given a high-end visual peephole into the event.

As it is known to do, Summer Jam 2011 provided a slew of surprise guests, along with the various performers who were officially scheduled to hit the stage. Reviews of the show were mixed, perhaps demonstrated perfectly by two adjacent comments to our site, where we posted the live stream video for viewing, with one viewer stating, “ONE OF THE WACKEST YEARS SO FAR,” while the very next comment proclaimed the exact opposite, stating, “this was the most AWESOME SHIT EVAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#Epic”

As usual, Summer Jam provided unbilled appearances, and this year delivered to modest success, with artists like Busta Rhymes, Long Island’s Reek Da Villian, Olivia, Meek Mill, Maino, Travis Porter, Diddy and Mobb Deep among the surprises. Rumors of a Jay-Z appearance proved to be false.

Either way, there was certainly something for almost everyone at the fabled event, and to provide a fair and balanced look at Summer Jam 2011, we’ll be assembling an assortment of choice reviews and recaps, photos and videos of the festivities here, so you don’t have to spend time wandering around the internet looking for the good stuff. Check back during the day as we will update as new information comes along.

Miss Info: Photos, backstage interviews, live update recap and more

Rap-Up: Lil Wayne Performs With Drake at Summer Jam [Videos]

The Star-Ledger: Summer Jam 2011 is Wildly Uneven, But Engaging Nonetheless [Review, Photos]

Village Voice (Jeff Rosenthal): Rick Ross Lives Out His Dream at Summer Jam [Review/Commentary]

The New York Times: On a Crowded Stage, The New Axis of Hip Hop [Review/Commentary]