Although I arrived to the festivities late, last Summer, The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival is an event no Hip Hop fan should miss out on. Never in a million years would I have thought to come face to face with Rakim The God MC. Everything from the weather to the positive energy in the air was perfect. During my time at the festival I had the opportunity of photographing the legends of the game, from Jadakiss up to the great DMX. Here’s a little a throwback for the Freetown fans of unreleased photos taken by myself at the festival last Summer.
The Brooklyn Bridge. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Sheek Louch (left) and Jadakiss (right) performing “Mighty D-Block.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Jadakiss taking a second to speak with the crowd. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Styles P rocking the Brooklyn crowd. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Lil’ Cease (left) and Jadakiss reunite during a performance of “All About The Benjamins.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
The LOX raising their fist in the midst of a speech by Styles P. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
DMX as he awaits the chanting crowd. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
DMX during a stunning performance of “Get at Me Dog.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
DMX shares a moment with the crowd following an energetic performance. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
DMX gazing into the crowd after an intimate performance of “Slippin.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
DMX celebrates while performing “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Executive Producer, Wes Jackson, poses backstage. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
The LOX during an interview backstage. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
The beautiful crowd awaits the next artist to hit the stage. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Havoc of Mobb Deep performs an ode to his late friend and legend, Prodigy. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Steele of Smif-N-Wessun performing his verse of “Bucktown.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Steele and Tek (Smif-N-Wessum) performing “Bucktown.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Rakim The God MC revels in the chants of the crowd. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Rakim poses on top of the stereo speaker mid performance. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Rakim pounds his chest in between his verse. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Rakim rocks the mic to a performance of “Follow the Leader.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Rakim performing “Follow the Leader.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Rakim performing “Follow the Leader.” | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Jadakiss chucking up the deuce during his farewells. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
5FT of Black Moon poses for a portrait backstage. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
Underneath the Brooklyn Bridge following the festival. | July 14, 2017 | Photographed by Cody Cooper
FREETOWN RADIO 