At the 2011 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, headliner Q-Tip brings out Kanye West and Busta Rhymes during his performance.

Brooklyn Bodega, producers of the 6th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (BHF) announces the details of their new event “Salute the DJ.” This event is on July 8th as part of the week-long 2010 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. Salute the DJ honors this invaluable foundation of Hip-Hop with a portion of the night’s proceeds being donated to the estate of the late Grandmaster Roc Raida who was a DJ, turntablist, producer and member of the The X-ecutioners.

“As the human conduit for Hip-Hop music and culture, we wanted to take a day to focus on the importance of the DJ. In Hip-Hop’s early days the DJ was an integral part of the Hip-Hop act. While the evolution of the art form has pushed the DJ literally and figuratively to the back of the stage his/her importance is still relevant. Our Salute The DJ event will remind those who may have forgotten or those who are unfamiliar with one of the disciplines.”
- Wes Jackson, Executive Director, Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

The night features the best DJs and is divided up into three sections. The party DJ(s) who will hype the crowd with new records, the turntablist(s) whose expertise is visually and sonically undeniable on the decks and the beat digger(s) who connect the dots between the Soul, Funk and Jazz that root the Hip-Hop classics.

Ultimately, Salute the DJ aims to leave the crowd with a broader understanding of the DJ’s role and its importance to Hip-Hop culture. A secondary focus will be to illustrate the idea that today’s Producer evolved from the classic DJ.

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Special performances will be given by:

Bobbito Garcia (aka Kool Bob Love) is a DJ, writer, basketball player/performer/announcer, magazine editor in chief, TV personality/creative producer, photographer, designer, consultant, actor, and dancer. From 1990 to 1998 he co-hosted The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on WKCR. In 1995, Bobbito set-up the important underground, vinyl-only label Fondle ‘Em Records featuring artists such as MF Doom, Kool Keith and Cage. Since then Bob has been rocking crowds all over the world with his eclectic DJ sets.

DJ Rob Swift is a world renowned turntablist and member of the groundbreaking turntablist crew the X-Men aka X-ecutioners (Roc Raida, Total Eclipse, and Mista Sinista). Within a year of joining the group in 1991, he won the coveted DMC East Coast title, becoming world renowned as a master beat juggler (a style of turntable manipulation which involves manually rearranging actual drum beats from vinyl in real time).

DJ Spinna is an acclaimed artist, DJ and producer who has been experimenting with turntables since age 11 and is known for combining dance music with Hip-Hop, Soul and Funk music. His Stevie Wonder tributes, Wonder-Full, have become meccas for music lovers all over the world. As a producer and composer he has worked with BHF ’10 headliner De La Soul, Les Nubians, Roy Ayers, Little Brother and Mos Def.

Waajeed is a Detroit-born music producer and one half of the Hip-Hop and R&B group Platinum Pied Pipers (PPP) and founder of record label/production company Bling47. A close friend of Slum Village, he is credited for convincing the group to release their first album/demo, Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol.1), choosing the group name and introducing them to fourth member Elzhi. An acclaimed producer in his own right Wajeed has toured the world as a DJ and with PPP.

More acts to be announced soon!

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What: Salute The DJ
When : Thursday, July 8th, 9pm-1am
Where: Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Damage: $18 Tickets

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Tickets are on sale now at the official home of the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival.

In line with its commitment to keep Hip-Hop affordable for the masses, Brooklyn Bodega announces several economic ticket packages.

The Deluxe Package:
A badge that gets you into every BHF10 event during the week of July 5 – July 10
Price = $60 (savings of $15)

The Long Weekend Package:
Entry to the Salute the DJ event on 7/8
Entry to the Kick Off Party on 7/9
Entry to the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival & Family Day on 7/10
Entry to the After-Party on 7/10
Price = $45 (savings of $10)

The Main Day Package:
Entry to the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival & Family Day on 7/10
Entry to the After-Party on 7/10
Price = $20 (savings of $5)

PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE 2010 BHF HERE

PLEASE NOTE: Those Bodega Soldiers who purchase their tickets by THIS FRIDAY (May 21st) will get access to premium packages at no additional charge. Anticipated perks include being on a priority mailing list that receives all Festival announcements prior to the general public, admittance to a reserved section next to the stage, ability to enter exclusive raffles, priority check-in at the Main Day venue and a FREE commemorative souvenir. Bodega Soldiers will also automatically be entered to win backstage VIP packages.

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The calendar for the 6th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival kicks off with Show & Prove on Monday, July 5th. This Hip-Hop showcase highlighting independent and local talent is the final event of Brooklyn Bodega’s three month Show & Prove competition.

Tuesday, July 6th will feature the Bodega Education Initiative, a day of panel discussions and seminars about legendary producer, J Dilla. Speakers include Q-Tip, Ma Dukes Yancey, DJ Spinna and more.

Wednesday, July 7th is a mini Film Festival featuring a variety of Hip-Hop films followed by Q&A with established and aspiring filmmakers.

Thursday, July 8th is a night dedicated to the backbone of Hip-Hop: the DJ. It will feature performances by the best DJs from across the country.

Friday, July 9th is the kick-off party to formally welcome Festival goers, past and current artists and community leaders to the 6th Annual BHF.

Saturday, July 10th is the culmination of the 2010 Festival. De La Soul will headline the 6th Annual BHF on the DUMBO waterfront. The festivities kick off with Family Day – a block party for families and children celebrating Hip Hop’s central message — social change and individual empowerment.

And the press release reads as follows:

Brooklyn Bodega, producers of the 6th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (BHF), is excited to announce this year’s headliner – De La Soul.

Since 1989, De La Soul (Pos, Dave and Mase) have been a cornerstone of Hip-Hop music and culture. From the groundbreaking album “3 Feet High and Rising” to “Grind Date” De La is simply one of the best to ever do it.

“To be honest, we have been trying to get De La Soul to headline the Festival since we first came up with the idea in 2005. On many levels they are the perfect flag bearers for our mission to use Hip-Hop as an agent of change. For over 20 years they have traveled the world inspiring MC’s, producers, DJ’s and fans alike. I can think of no better artist to usher the Festival into its new home in Brooklyn Bridge Park.” – Wes Jackson, Executive Director, The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

In past years, the Festival has featured headliners such as Brand Nubian (2005), Big Daddy Kane (2006), Ghostface Killah (2007), KRS-ONE (2008) and Pharoahe Monch (2009). This year, De La Soul will be the anchor of the six-day-long Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, performing on Saturday, July 10th alongside a variety of Old School, New School, Funk, Soul, local and International artists on the DUMBO waterfront.