Legendary DJ, rapper, beatboxer, and producer D-Nice brought Club Quarantine Live to New York City, with a phenomenal show that included sets by a plethora of artists and surprise guests including Common, KRS-One, Stephanie Mills, Estelle, Anthony Hamilton, Melba Moore, Donnie Wahlberg, Kathy Sledge and his collective, The Originals, featuring Stretch Armstrong, Tony Touch, Rich Medina, and Clark Kent.
The thrilling evening, presented by Live Nation, took place at the 43rd annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park, and was hosted by actor, comedian and former football player Anthony “Spice” Adams.
The star-studded evening kicked off with Anthony “Spice” Adams welcoming the growing crowd, who were already filled with excitement preparing for the night ahead of them.
Adams then introduced the man of the hour, D-Nice, who took the stage to thunderous applause. The DJ wasted no time hyping up the energy in the venue, playing classic hits like “Livin’ It Up” and “Give It To Me Baby,” while the audience danced enthusiastically.
The crowd cheered as hip-hop staples Stretch Armstrong, Tony Touch, Rich Medina, and Clark Kent joined him on stage to perform as The Originals.
The prolific group played renditions of “Otis,” “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” and “Percolator,” during which Anthony “Spice” Adams could be seen skillfully and hilariously dancing across the stage on a pair of roller skates, to loud shouts and enthusiasm from the audience.
Following The Originals’ set, singer and actress Melba Moore gracefully took the stage with an introduction by film director and producer Spike Lee.
The GRAMMY-nominated singer, who looked regal in a sparkling purple ensemble, showcased her vocal skills, performing hits “Just Doing Me” and “You Stepped Into My Life.” As the audience sang along, the R&B Music Hall of Fame inductee exclaimed, “I feel you with me!”
The first of the night’s many surprise guests, singer-songwriter, actor, and producer Donnie Wahlberg then appeared, greeted by screams from the audience.
Next on the impressive lineup, GRAMMY award-winning singer-songwriter, and Brooklyn native Stephanie Mills gave a moving performance of a medley of her hits including the 1980 fan-favorite “Never Knew Love Like This Before.”
Following Mills’ set, British singer-songwriter, rapper, and actress Estelle took the stage in a long sequin dress and kept the party going, as she threw lyrics back and forth with the audience as she performed her hits “American Boy” and “Something Good.”
GRAMMY award-winning R&B vocalist Anthony Hamilton took the stage next and performed beautiful renditions of his songs “Charlene” and “Best of Me.” Clad in all white, Hamilton’s vocal prowess was on full display as he hit high falsetto notes, and the crowd swayed along to the music.
D-Nice then let the crowd know they were in for a treat with the evening’s next surprise guest. The low rumble of the anticipating audience then exploded into screams and cheers, as rapper and actor Common took the stage. Proclaiming, “let’s show them the light, Brooklyn,” Common began performing track “The Light,” as the crowd raised their cell phone lights in the air, creating a picturesque scene of community in the bandshell.
Building on the uplifting positivity, the following surprise guest, Brooklyn-native gospel artist Bishop Hezekiah Walker performed with a trio of female backup singers. As the audience raised their hands to the sky in praise, Walker sang a stunning rendition of his hit song “Better.”
Following Walker’s set, D-Nice introduced his former Boogie Down Productions member hip-hop legend KRS-One.
He burst onto the stage rapping, as the bandshell boomed with the cheers of the crowd. The energy of the venue hit its apex as he performed his classics “South Bronx” and “Step Into a World (Rapture’s Delight),” while D-Nice dj’d and drummer TaRon Lockett provided the resounding beats.
He also welcomed DJ Red Alert on the stage to join in on “The Bridge Is Over.” In what became one of the evening’s most special moments, the influential rapper spoke about growing up, being homeless in a shelter, and looking to manifest his dreams.
KRS-One told the crowd how he used to come to Prospect Park with his mother, who taught him that what you think about is what you manifest, and how that lesson came to fruition when he met his social worker, who became the rapper’s DJ and partner in Boogie Down Productions, the late DJ Scott La Rock.
The rapper encouraged the audience to manifest their dreams exclaiming, “look at him now,” in reference to D-Nice’s success.
Ending the powerful set, KRS-One proclaimed,
“rich is not determined by what you have. Rich is determined by what you can give away,”
Capping off the spectacular evening, the audience was then treated to a performance by surprise guest, singer-songwriter Kathy Sledge who performed her hit song, “Thinking of You,” while the crowd sang in unison.
This song was what kicked off Club Quarantine on social media. The Originals then retook the stage and closed out the night with a rendition of the classic “Call Me D-Nice.”
(Photo Credit: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival. Photographers Antoine DeBrill and
Walik Goshorn)
The BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival will continue through September 18th with upcoming performances including Mr. Eazi, Bembona, AJO, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Lady Blackbird, and MICHELLE.
