Barbados-born rap pioneer Doug E. Fresh, a youthful 56-year-old, is the featured act in an AARP concert “celebrating hip-hop’s anniversary, and the powerful connection between music and health.” (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Despite the deluge of coverage surrounding of the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip hop, the world’s media seemed oblivious to the fact that all those original music stars, and their fans, are old enough to apply for AARP — easily meeting the organization’s age requirement being 50 years of age or older.
But AARP was quite aware of the opportunity to reach out to a large population of potential new members. The 2019 AARP article, “Hip Hop at Middle Age: Rap Pioneers Reflect” that highlighted rappers DMC, Rakim, RZA, Yo-Yo, is one of several editorial efforts smartly inching the group towards hip hop’s golden 2023 anniversary.
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Barbados-born rap pioneer Doug E. Fresh, a youthful 56-year-old, is the featured act in an AARP concert “celebrating hip-hop’s anniversary, and the powerful connection between music and health.” (Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
So, this year, the organization — which “fights for age 50 and over individuals and their families” and provides senior discounts for a myriad items and services — took advantage of hip hop’s birth year by hosting a virtual concert on Thursday starring 56-year-old Barbados-born rap pioneer Doug E. Fresh, who’s also famous for being hip hop’s “Original Human Beatbox.” The concert is “celebrating hip hop’s anniversary, and the powerful connection between music and health.”
The pioneering Antigua-born, Harlem-raised Kool DJ Red Alert (born Frederick Crute) — famous for bringing hip hop music and culture to prominence on American radio and popularizing Jamaican dancehall music in the U.S. — currently has a radio show on WBLS 107.5 FM in New York. Red Alert was a member of Jamaican-Barbados-rooted Afrika Bambaataa’s culturally influential Universal Zulu Nation. Red Alert is 65 and Bambaataa is 66 years old. Both are AARP eligible.
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Meanwhile, Clive Campbell — better known Kingston, Jamaica-born DJ Kool Herc, and hip-hop’s esteemed Bronx creator — turned 68 this year.
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And Jamaica-born Cindy Campbell — Kool Herc’s famous younger sister, trusted business associate and “hip hop’s first promoter” — recently oversaw a Christie’s auction of a wide-range of hip hop memorabilia. Hip hop’s birth reportedly took place in a recreation room of an apartment building at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx 50 years ago, coincidently on his sister’s birthday. So, that would make Cindy an AARP candidate too.
NYC’S CARNIVAL IS COMING
It takes teamwork to have a great carnival, and the West Indian American Day Carnival Association (WIADCA) recently gathered its team members to kick off the 2023 New York Carnival — five days of Caribbean festivities that begin Aug. 31 and climax on Sept. 4 with the colorful parade along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway.
Earlier this month, WIADCA members, representatives of steel bands and masqueraders, and other event partners gathered at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum to debut the 2023 edition of the New York Carnival. Mayor Adams was on hand for the Aug. 10 kickoff, representing the NYPD, and the other agencies that make New York City a major partner of the annual carnival festivities.
The New York Caribbean Carnival’s traditional Labor Day sashay along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway. (HAYDEN ROGER CELESTIN)
The four days of pre-parade events take place on the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum, at 200 Eastern Parkway. Highlights include the Aug. 31 “Vibes with Voicey Long Live Soca Tour” show — presented by BlackStar Entertainment, the anticipated free Junior Carnival Parade of children and teenagers on Sept. 2 through Crown Heights, which culminates with “Youthfest” at the Brooklyn Museum, and Panorama 2023 steel drum competition that evening.
Masqueraders, music, and miles-long street fair of arts, fashion, and food vendors take over Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway for the free 2023 New York Carnival Parade, starting at 10 a.m. Visit carnival.nyc for full schedule and tickets.
AIDING GRENADA’S YOUNG & OLD
The need is ever-present in Grenada for the young and the old, so Grenada-born community leader and TV personality John Crow is helping again, by organizing a shipment of “desperately” needed items for seniors, such as “disinfectants of any kind, bed sheets, wash cloths, house dresses, and adult diapers.”
Community leader John Crow is at it again — shipping supplies for needy seniors and school items for students in Grenada. (Obtained by Daily News)
Crow has organized a GoFundMe campaign, which will also send donated backpacks, pens, pencils, notebooks, and other school necessities for students. Visit the Charity Drive Grenada Seniors page. Donations are also being accepted. Call Crow at (917) 676-2634.