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PHOTOS BY: tekaphotography.com
DMC, Phife Surprise Jack Daniel’s Art, Beats + Lyrics
Atlanta—-Attendees of Jack Daniel’s Art, Beats + Lyrics got not one, but three special surprises at the event Friday night.
First
up, was a surprise visit from Phife of the legendary group, Tribe
Called Quest. Looking healthier after suffering from a bout with
diabetes that caused him to have his kidney replaced, Phife rocked to
“Check the Rhyme” alongside Jaspects, who had performed earlier in the
night.
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Then,
came a special tribute to legendary producer, J. Dilla, who succumbed
to lupus in 2006, in which his mother Ms. Maureen Yancey came on stage
and received a special painting from Eric Nine as Phife, who helped
introduce Dilla to the world, looked on with a smile.
“Give
it up for Ma Dukes,” Phife encouraged the crowd, after telling them how
proud he was to have played an integral part in Dilla’s and Slum
Village’s success. “We’re celebrating life.”
As
if that weren’t enough for the hip-hop heads that packed the W in
midtown Atlanta, DMC of Run DMC came out and rocked for about 30
minutes, running through classics like “Tricky.”
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“When
somebody says what do you think about when you think about Altanta,
it’s not going t be anything about DMC or Dilla,” Bem Joiner,
consultant of the popular event, which started in 2004, says. “Their
performance was significant to show the diversity of the city; Atlanta
has a vibrant arts scene.”
Joiner
says that the same cultural spirit that was brought to life in Atlanta
transfers to the other cities the tremendously popular, free event has
toured, including Baltimore, St. Louis and Charlotte.
“It
brings people together,” Joiner says. “The vibe that’s presented with
the art show, just doesn’t happen [with other events].”
-jh
