Pharoahe Monch at the Apollo (Night 2)
Pharoahe Monch at The Apollo in 2016 (more by Sachyn Mital)

hip hop at SummerStage 2019 (EPMD, Pharoahe Monch, Young M.A, Slick Rick, Boot Camp BBQ, more)

The 2019 SummerStage lineup is out now which means tons of FREE outdoor concerts in all five boroughs of NYC. As Always, there are tons of styles of music represented. Here’s a run-down of all the free hip hop you can catch this year, with lots of veterans and a few newcomers too.

New Orleans bounce queen Big Freedia hits Central Park on June 13 with support from Mike Q, BATEKOO, and host Gina Yashere. 7 PM start.

Veteran Queens rapper and former Organized Konfusion member Pharoahe Monch is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut solo album Internal Affairs on June 20 at Herbert Von King Park in Bed-Stuy. He’ll be joined by “friends” during his set, and Miss Mocha Sunflower The Rhythm Goddess will open. 7 PM start.

Hip hop/soul staple Musiq Soulchild is opening for the legendary Sheila E in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on June 23. 5 PM start.

The annual Duck Down BBQ appears to be rebranded as the Boot Camp BBQ, and this year it takes place in Brownsville’s Betsy Head Park on June 27 with Boot Camp Clik members Black Moon and Smif N Wessun. 7 PM start.

Rising New York rapper Young M.A hits Betsy Head Park on June 29 with veteran DJ Funk Flex. 7 PM start.

Veteran VJ/DJ Ralph McDaniels is bringing his Ralph McDanels & Friends Soul Jam ft. Blue Magic and DJ Hollywood to Queen’s Springfield Park on July 6. 6 PM start.

Rapper turned folk singer Ana Tijoux plays Staten Island’s Corporal Thompson Park on July 20 with L’Unicorns and DJ Shame. 4 PM start.

Staten Island hip hop vets and New Jack Swing pioneers Force MDs are teaming with early ’90s era Staten Island rap duo The U.M.C.’s, pioneering hip hop DJ Red Alert, DJ Xcel and DJ Thrilla in Staten Island’s Corporal Thompson Park on July 21. 4 PM start.

Pioneering Bronx DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore teams with Uptown Vinyl Supreme w/ DJ Perly, The B.O.O.M. (Bronx Organic Orchestra Melinated), and The Boogie Down All-Stars in the Bronx’s Soundview Park on July 25. 6 PM start.

Groundbreaking MC Slick Rick hits Soundview Park on July 27 with DJ Chuck Chillout. 6 PM start.

Legendary Long Island rap group EPMD are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1989 sophomore album Unfinished Business in the Bronx’s Crotona Park on August 3, and that show doubles as Funk Flex‘s birthday celebration. 6 PM start.

Neo-soul singers Corinne Bailey Rae and Jose James are joining forces in Central Park on August 4 with DJ Natasha Diggs. 7 PM start.

NYC genre-defying hip hop/soul group Phony Ppl are hitting East River Park on August 8 with indie rock bands Crumb and Purr. 7 PM start.

Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli is playing the Black Woodstock Anniversary in Marcus Garvey Park on August 17 with jazz musicians Igmar Thomas and Keyon Harrold and special guests. 6 PM start.

Like last year, Stretch Armstrong, Clark Kent, D-Nice, Rich Medina and Tony Touch are bringing their party The Originals to Central Park on August 27. 7 PM start.

Full 2019 SummerStage lineup HERE.

Watch some videos from some of the above-mentioned artists below…