There was little expectation that hip-hop would last much past its 1970s roots as a source of New York City escapism. Fifty years later it’s an entrenched art form and a hugely popular cultural force not only in the United States but across the world, a phenomenon not even equaled by jazz, that other indispensable U.S. musical export.
And now, as part of the long-running Cincinnati Music Festival — which this year also features Al Green, Jill Scott, Snoop Dogg, Babyface and more at Paycor Stadium July 21 and 22 — four old-school hip-hop heavyweights collaborate for a show celebrating the genre’s 50 years of existence: Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim and Slick Rick.
All four are now in their fifties, barely older than hip-hop itself. Each is an important cog in a musical revolution solidified in the late 1980s culminating with the wider emergence of Run-D.M.C., the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy. Word is each emcee will get 20 minutes (or so) to do their thing — enough time to deliver tunes that helped build a genre. In Fresh’s case, that means showcasing the beatboxing skills that broke ground and rewired minds — both on his own records and as part of Slick Rick’s 1988 landmark The Adventures of Slick Rick, a vivid, often raunchy showcase that, like much of the genre’s 1980s output, is sure to raise the eyebrows of the politically correct crowd.
For Kane, it’s a chance to revisit the braggadocious swagger and frequently humorous tunes that helped give the genre its juice, most notably “Ain’t No Half Steppin’” and “Smooth Operator.” And then there’s Rakim, whose 1987 debut with Eric B., Paid in Full, remains a masterpiece of lyrical depth and verbal flow. Rakim has long given props to John Coltrane and jazz artists in general as his main influence, a link to a musical past and career-arc template that he hopes extends to hip-hop artists going forward.
“When we look at the other genres of music, you look at R&B, you look at jazz, you know there’s no limit on that,” Rakim said in a recent interview with Vibe. “And that’s what hip-hop listeners gotta understand, man. If we still have the passion and we still love hip-hop and the music is good, there’s no reason to put a limit on age.”
Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim and Slick Rick play the Andrew J Brady Music Center at 7:30 p.m. July 20. Info: bradymusiccenter.com.
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This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 11, 2023.