Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts: A 2011 Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival Recap and Reflection [Words, Photos, Video]

Manny’s notes.

Hip hop events like the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival need to be cherished, and while countless media outlets will recap the 2011 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, it is our hope that the angle I took when writing this will inspire those who did not attend the other events, to do so next year.

Even more importantly, the diverse lineup of Festival events should inspire people to look for other such events throughout the city during the year. There are plenty. I encourage people to attend some up and coming showcases and seek to discover new talent emerging from the Big Apple and to purchase hip hop-related books when they come out, or attend hip hop-related art exhibits when they open.

Of course, we strive to alert our readers and cover such events, so I welcome people to visit our site and check in to our NY-area Hip Hop Events Calendar often. I also encourage folks to visit other reputable and helpful hip hop websites like HipHopDX and 2DopeBoyz, among many others, to keep up to date with the latest news and new music, without being distracted by the constant barrage of useless data regurgitated by countless blogs and sites.

For Birthplace Magazine, being able to attend and cover the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival was a goal we set out to accomplish last year, when we were snubbed by the organization. Perhaps we were too new on the scene at the time, but we are thankful that this year, Brooklyn Bodega recognized our tireless work praising, documenting and advocating for the New York hip hop scene, and allowed us into the fold as a full-on media partner.

I want to thank Birthplace Magazine family members Steven Ortiz and Sean Rhinehart, for sacrificing their time on this, and other occasions, to help us do this thing that we do. It is an honor to have had an idea and goals that other people believe in and are willing to help achieve. To them, and others who have helped along the way, A.D. The General, Ms. FeFe, Hadasah Ingrid, Bianca Christensen, Alisha Acquaye and Mecca Meyers, you have my heartfelt gratitude.

Here is a quick and incomplete braindump of some of my personal highlights from our Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival experience:

Joe Conzo. The man who “took hip hop’s baby pictures.” A talented and humble man who continues to shoot his way into the hip hop journalism history books. It was an in-person meeting I had been looking forward to.

Homeboy Sandman. An artist I advocate for any chance I get. Always a pleasure to see and talk to this inimitable and gracious MC. His performance was thrilling.

Good to run into many NYC artists and friends of BirthplaceMag.com in attendance, even if not performing. Good folks like Ciph Diggy & K. Gaines (Sleepwalkas), Jesse Abraham, Warren Britt, Kalae AllDay, SuperKing Armor, B.S., Willie Green (who did an early DJ set that we missed, unfortunately), Rabbi Darkside, J57…

The Act Live booth. This Rochester-based outlet is home to great hip hop, and deserve a feature in our e-pages. Check them out and stay tuned.

Eternia is dope. We cosign. Even if AllHipHop doesn’t.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEAj8JH9OLM)

That little kid that was breaking is going to be a beast.

Shouts to Jasmine Solano, who DJ’d at the Red Bull truck. Good to finally meet her after seeing her rock a bunch of times.

Shouts to Nitty Scott MC, we have an interview on her coming soon.

[Click to see our pictures from the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival Main Day]

A giant shoutout to Bodega staff members Pamela Bishop, Marilyn Alonzo and Kelli Jones who were my main contacts throughout the planning for our coverage, as well as website work that I assisted with. You ladies were the epitome of professionalism despite ever-changing circumstances.

Of course, thanks to Bodega chieftain Wes Jackson.

Thanks to our involvement, I’ve had many great conversations with The Company Man. Do check him out on Bodega Radio, www.pncradio.fm, Fridays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Speaking of PNC, shouts to A-King, the lovely Telisa D and the PNC Radio staff and extended fam. We see what y’all are doing and plan to highlight your efforts in our e-pages soon.

Got to see Sana from TheHipHopDemocrat.com again, always a pleasure, and met Geechi Suede from Camp Lo, who has been resurging lately. They are on deck for an interview as well, stay tuned.

My kids. I always put family first, but like anyone pursuing something special, I have had to sacrifice time, energy and expense to bring my vision for Birthplace Magazine to life. My wonderful wife and exceptional children are extremely supportive of my efforts, but it’s always nice to be able to share with them the spoils of my efforts. Such was the case at the Main Day. I arranged VIP passes for them so they would have the best possible experience, and judging by them continuing to talk about the day hours after we came home, they did. I think for a growing publication, we did an exceptional job participating as a media partner with the BHF. I had a great time attending and covering the events. But providing enjoyment for my kids, showing them what I do when I’m out and about, immersing them in quality, positive hip hop, and seeing the joy it brought them, is truly the best part of it all.

It just so happens that through me exposing them to what we do, my daughter Briana is a fan of Kalae AllDay, my son Miles of Homeboy Sandman, both of whom eagerly posed for pictures with them. I know this is because they are gracious folks, and because we have crossed paths and have an artist/journalist relationship, but it really made my day that they helped make my kids’ day. I thank you guys.

And shoutout to Freeway, also in attendance, who took a flick with my oldest.

Until next year.