Throngs of urban sophisticates settled underneath Chicago’s spectacular skyline and sampled some old-school musical cuisine during the annual A Taste of Chicago food festival. Hip-hop heads showed up 100,000 strong as Salt-N-Pepa, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick and Bell Biv Devoe delivered performances that rocked Grant Park.
Despite the music that was blaring loud enough to make the grass grow, rolling out was able to catch up with a few old-school rap lovers to find out why they love it and why outdoor concerts are off the chain. –terry shropshire
Why do you like outdoor concerts?
Camille Dennis: I like it. It’s something different.
Kelly Ware: I don’t get out much, so it gives me a chance to unwind.
What is it about old-school hip-hop that you like so much?
Camille Dennis: It just brings back memories of my childhood
Kelly Ware: This was a time when hip- hop was about having fun and partying, before it got gangsta in the 1990s.
What do you like about old-school hip-hop?
Kia Calhoun: Love it. Absolutely love it. I mean, it’s real music. Ain’t nothing like it. It touches your soul.
Serena Boldin: It’s where it started. It’s the foundation of everything that I love about hip-hop.
Why do you like outdoor concerts?
Calhoun: Lots of different people and lots of different races getting together and enjoying the same thing.
Boldin: It’s outside, you get to enjoy great music with everyone else. It’s a lot of fun in the summertime. Last time I came it was for Stevie [Wonder].
Why do you love old-school hip-hop?
Saran Dunmore: Oh my God, we kicked it so hard! I love old school! It’s funny because I took the bus here and these young kids said ‘I don’t know why there’s so many people on the bus.’ And I said, ‘How old are you?’ and they said, ’15.’ And I said, ‘OK, you have no idea, boo. You have no idea.’ Doug E. Fresh killed it, murdered it.
What’s so special about outdoor concerts?
Dunmore: I love outdoor concerts. Everyone is having a good time. They are listening to the music and kicking it. You can feel the breeze. I love it. I don’t feel so confined like in a dome or something. I feel so free.
How do you dress for the steam bath that is Chicago summers?
Dunmore: I don’t like to wear a lot because it’s hot [laughs]. I like to be comfortable. So I have on black sandles, short shorts and a tank top.
Why do you love old-school hip-hop?
Janice Morris: I love old school because it was true hip-hop. There wasn’t no cussing, fussin and no fighting.
What’s so special about outdoor concerts?
Morris: I love outdoor concerts because it’s open and breezy, we have a lot of fun and the acoustics are better.
How do you dress for the steamy Midwest summers?
Morris: I just came from work. Dress proper[ly]. You can wear dresses. You can be comfortable.
