2011 Fort Greene Festival With Mos Def Performance [Recap, Video]

Once again, Brooklyn pulls a spectacular trick from it’s sleeves to prove that it is indeed one of the most precious places to be in the summer season.

Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park hosted the annual Fort Greene Festival, a two-day event honoring culture, music, art and the lovely people who attend this momentous outdoor affair. On this weekend, giddy Brooklynites and New Yorkers alike gathered in the 30 acre park, along with spectators who traveled from New Jersey, Virginia, Philadelphia and points beyond. The crowd was colorful and filled with African, Caribbean, Hispanic, European and Caucasian cultures. No doubt, looking out into the audience was like gazing at a beautiful, vibrant rainbow. Fortunately, we did not have to endure rain to witness this inspiring sight.

The park seemed to be the perfect playground for afro-centric, free thinking spirits. Parallel to the children’s slides and monkey bars, an adult would find the beautiful designs, artwork and jewelry of several companies, such as Live Again Studios and Not Just Vintage designs. There were several tents around the park serving traditional foods for those with a culturally curious taste. The temperature was wonderful, with moderate sunshine and refreshing breeze. It was the ideal scene for enjoying live music with friends, lovers or family.

The Sunday, June 25th headlining event was hosted by Brooklyn native Rosie Perez, the well known actress, dancer and social activist. Perez added comedy and sparkle to the experience, with lighthearted jokes and her evident energy, particularly towards the dance competition. This year, the event paid homage to the late, great Michael Jackson who passed away two years earlier. The dance competition featured his songs while chosen audience members battled it out for popularity and affirmation from the immense crowd. Important issues were emphasized to spread awareness to the attentive audience, including the hyrdofracking bill that could possibly be passed in NYC, possibly leading to the contamination of our water and environment, as well as the availability of free HIV testing in Brooklyn and the Bronx.

The performances were entertaining, stimulating and kept the crowd excited. Game Rebellion, Sophia Urista, Navegante and Tai Allen graced the stage with their eclectic sounds. Game Rebellion, a Brooklyn based, rock and hip-hop infused band, kept the crowd aroused with their hard-hitting guitars and drums, juxtaposed with meaningful rap lyrics. Experiencing two great music forms at once was an interesting and innovative experience, especially with guitarist Yohimbe’s eccentric peacock feather jeans vest. Tai Allen, a spoken word artist/vocalist, creatively intertwined poetry with sultry melodies to achieve his otherworldly sound. He enchanted the crowd with his stunning storytelling lyrics and booming voice. Sophia Urista, a rock vocalist, redefined the meaning of the art of performance: she boldly appeared on stage with an amazing green leotard, big hair, and a thunderous voice that moved the crowd. Navegante, the Latin, electro-rock inspired group performed as well, reigning over the audience with their energetic beats. Soulful songstress Res, quirky rock band Paper Doll, British soul singer Clarke and the jazzy, funky Mariella also left their mark on the Fort Greene Festival stage. Unfortunately, Medina Green did not receive positive feedback from the crowd, which may have been getting a bit cranky, more than ready for the headliner, Mos Def. Nonetheless, some of Brooklyn’s favorite rising artists could be found enjoying the live entertainment as well. The innovative rap artist JonnyGO Figure and the infectiously charming jazz-rap band Phony Ppl attended the event as well.

However, all throughout the park, Mos Def’s name could be heard escaping the mouths of several anticipating fans.

Finally, at about 7:20 p.m., Mos Def was introduced to the anxious crowd. There was an uproarious welcome for the long awaited presence of this Brooklyn bomber. Needless to say, his performance was worth the wait. Mos Def modestly emerged onstage with a dusty colored blazer and black hat, opening with a remix to “Brooklyn, We Go Hard,” effectively commemorating this unique “planet,” followed by “Super Magic.“ He then proceeded to rap his own renditions of lovable old school joints and Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson hits; it was quite entertaining to witness the conscious rapper imitating the dance moves and vocal style of the late MJ. Most admirably, he killed “Casa Bey,” dancing and scatting on stage with an excitement and energy that the crowd reciprocated. He also performed “Cream of the Planet“ and “Close Edge.” Mos presented the audience with two new singles that he plans to release, one entitled, “World Premiere.” He closed the show with perhaps his most beloved and universal song, “Umi Says,” which left the crowd feeling pleasantly nostalgic.

The show and Festival itself ended shortly after his performance. The crowd soon dissipated and moved outward towards the exits. Some hung around with their friends discussing the performances and buying some long awaited ice cream cones. Others tried to get their last words in with the performaners. All in all, The Fort Greene Festival was another Brooklyn success that displayed the unity, beauty and artistic value of this borough that is so genuine and remarkable.