RECAP: Bastid’s BBQ in the Bronx [7/14/19]
What a summer it has been! Since I graduated from college in May (!), I’ve been going nonstop. I started my new day job (which is coincidentally located near Kaleidoscope Sound) at the beginning of June, and between the commute, the occasional Saturday shift, gigs, and trying to have a social life in my first post-grad summer, it’s been hectic, to say the least. However, though I’m now a working person, I’ve been making a point to go out and support local DJ friends and stay immersed in the culture.
A few weekends ago, Statik Link and I went to Bastid’s BBQ at the Bronx Brewery backyard. Words cannot express how excited I was – Skratch Bastid has been a huge musical influence on me since before I started DJing. We’ve casually remained in touch since meeting in person at the first Goldie Awards, and when he announced that the BBQ was finally coming to NYC, and the BRONX at that, I knew there was absolutely no way I would miss it. A hip-hop themed BBQ at the birthplace of Hip-Hop? Say no more, fam. I mean, check out this lineup:
The Bastid’s BBQ concept is simple, but dope. Local legends take the stage alongside Skratch Bastid all day and all night, while nearby eateries provide the chow. Hip hop pioneers make surprise appearances, and most will get behind the decks or a mic. It’s quite honestly the perfect summer party. What made this one even better, was that all the DJs were playing on 45s. No computers. No Serato. No nonsense.
The Bronx Brewery is a really cool space. There’s a taproom up front for food and drink, and a huge backyard. We actually had to walk through the fermenting & bottling room to get outside. It felt like an exclusive behind-the-scenes look to get up close and personal with all of the equipment. The engineer in me was fangirling, hard.
Outside, things had taken on a life of their own. The crew from Beatstro, the Bronx’s only hip-hop themed restaurant, manned the grill well into the evening. B-boys were battling right in front of the stage. As the sun set behind the train line overhead, the crowd only grew in size and energy. And, in true uptown fashion, everyone’s shoe game was fire. I kept it classic with my current summer pair, the Nike Cortez. I decided to try the local brew and got the “Well-Earned” pilsner. It was dope! According to their website, it’s a “crisp, refreshing pilsner [that] brings a little extra with hops that add subtle spicy and citrus flavors we think you deserve. Crack this one open. You’ve earned it.” Well, you don’t have to tell me twice.
Bastid had recruited a lineup of some of NYC’s most legendary DJ’s, including Breakbeat Lou, Edan, and Large Professor. In true “for the culture” fashion, Statik Selektah and Pharoahe Monch made appearances; Russell Peters came by and threw down a guest set; and Busta Rhymes performed “Scenario” with Dave Chapelle and ATCQ’s Q-Tip! Check out Bastid’s video recap, and some more pics, below:
All in all, it was a truly unforgettable experience. Having grown up in the Bronx, I felt so connected to hip hop and my local culture. From stoop sitting (which is apparently an NYC thing?), to grabbing a slice at your favorite shop on the corner, to playing handball till the streetlights came on, Bastid’s BBQ drove home this collective experience of growing up in the boroughs that transcends words. Watching these legends throw down on the stage reminded me that “doing it for the culture” isn’t just a saying. It’s very real and very powerful. I left that night feeling nothing short of inspired.
Leave a Comment
Powered by Facebook Comments