HARRISON, NJ (August 18, 2023) – The New York Red Bulls announced today a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, August 26. The evening will be highlighted by performances from Hip-Hop legends DMC of RUN DMC, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature as well as DJ Skribble and DJ Scratch. The festivities will take place both pre-and-post match of the Red Bulls and Inter Miami contest kicking off at 7:30m E.T, presented by New Jersey Lottery.
Red Bull players will don the club’s new Freestyle Kit, created by the team to celebrate the golden anniversary of Hip-Hop and innovators of our region, who for the past five decades have been pushing the culture forward. The Freestyle Kit is available to purchase at the BULLshop inside Red Bull Arena and at mlsstore.com.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature will be joined by DJ Skribble and DJ Scratch on stage located in the CrossBar at Red Bull Arena. That performance will lead into a special set from the iconic DMC from RUN DMC. Fans will be required to present their game ticket for entry inside the CrossBar area to view the performances.
Following the conclusion of the contest, DJ Skribble, DJ Scratch, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee will be performing inside Red Bull Arena, leading into a special post-match fireworks presentation.
“The debut of our Freestyle Kit speaks to our club’s celebration of the 50-year history of Hip-Hop and the continued impact the genre has had around the globe from artists of different backgrounds,” said Justin Baier, Director of Marketing, New York Red Bulls. “Throughout the last five decades, the vast storytelling and importance of Hip-Hop on our local community’s culture is unparalleled. It was important for us to celebrate a narrative and design that would be authentic and representative of our club’s values and our surrounding neighborhoods. We are proud to showcase our kit and celebrate Hip-Hop on what will be a memorable night at Red Bull Arena.”
The CrossBar at Red Bull Arena, located adjacent to the BULLevard, houses a permanent stage and viewing area providing a weather-proof option for pre-match festivities before gates open. The CrossBar also offers an outdoor pub experience with food, drinks and an upgraded bar area. The BULLevard will open at 4:30 p.m. for fans to partake in fun and fan-friendly soccer activations and gates for entry into Red Bull Arena will open at 5:30 p.m.
“Soccer has been around in the streets for a very long time“, said DMC of RUN DMC. “Just like beats, rhymes and park jams!”
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels is a legendary music icon who first impacted the world 40 years ago when RUN DMC made their recording debut “It’s Like That/ Sucker MCs.” From the first rap group to grace the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine to the first to appear on MTV, he helped changed music, culture, fashion, language and made American history. It would be hard to overstate his influence on popular culture.
Forty million record sales and 1⁄2 billion song streams later DMC still continues to create, inspire and motivate. In 2009, as a founding member of RUN DMC, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2016 he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy given to “performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.”
In between his work as a musical artist and producer, published author and speaker, or his work with his nonprofit, McDaniels finds time to talk with kids across the country about respect, responsibility, and self-awareness. One of his many memorable engagements included an invitation in 2015 by former President Obama to speak at the White House to a group of young men about fatherhood.
Darryl has also appeared before Congress and various State legislatures in support of adoptees and foster children, worked with former First Lady Michelle Obama on part of her “Get Fit” Campaign, was a featured speaker at the 2016 Kennedy Forum #Young Minds Matter event on Mental Health, and was a featured speaker at the 2017 SXSW Music Festival and 2017 Kennedy Center Honors.
He is also an Advisory Board Member for Hip Hop Public Health, an organization whose mission “is to foster positive health behavior change through the transformative power of hip-hop music.” He helped create early awareness on the importance of being vaccinated against COVID-19. For his numerous philanthropic endeavors, DMC has received numerous awards including the Hard Rock’s Love All Serve All Award, the Doing Art Together (DAT) Honoree Award for his contributions to helping under-served communities in NYC in the classroom and life, and the coveted CHILDREN’S RIGHTS Champion Award for his tireless work on behalf of foster children through his nonprofit The Felix Organization, as well as his work providing other year-round opportunities for children in foster care.
In addition to the Felix Organization and Hip Hop Public Health, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of The Madison Square Garden Company, including the Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Entertainment and MSG Media, to make dreams come true for children facing obstacles.
“We are excited to participate in the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop performance at Red Bull Arena in our home state”, said Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature. “We also want to give a super shout out to DJ Skribble for inviting us to rock out with him and the legendary DJ Scratch of EPMD.”
The East Orange, NJ-based and Grammy Award-winning trio Naughty by Nature remain one of the most influential Hip-Hop groups of all-time. In 1991, they released their first hit “O.P.P.” with the track peaking at #6 on the Billboard Top 100. The track was named one of the Top 100 rap singles of all-time in 1998 by the Source Magazine and was ranked the 20th best single of the 1990’s by Spin Magazine. Behind the success of “O.P.P.”, their self-titled album went platinum. Both albums 19 Naughty III (with hit single “Hip Hop Hooray”) and Poverty’s Paradise (Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1996) reached #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Charts.
“I have been a soccer fan for a long time and am beyond excited to participate in this incredible night for MLS,” said DJ Skribble. “See everyone on August 26!”
DJ Skribble has become renowned across generations, and in high-regard in today’s music world. With decades in the industry, DJ Skribble has grown as both an artist and a businessman. Starting as a member of the Young Black Teenagers, DJ Skribble soon after began working with Lauryn Hill and the Fugees, while building a long-lasting relationship with MTV and HOT-97 FM. Versatile in both music production and the music business, DJ Skribble has worked with countless artists, producers and entrepreneurs including Taio, Britney Spears, Scott Storch, Wyclef Jean, Tommy Lee, P. Diddy and Charlie Stettler. After thirty years, in the business, DJ Skribble continues to test new ground and to aspire to greater heights in the music industry. His passionate love of music, the excitement behind the development of new artists, and the cultures surrounding music genres have all fueled his imagination to create new concepts. His brilliance as an artist incorporates blending Hip-Hop, House, Rock-Electro music in new ways, all while his unique vision as an entertainment entrepreneur pushes him to create unforgettable experiences.
“It’s an honor to fuse Soccer & Hip-Hop in this creative way,” said DJ Scratch. “I hope this will turn into a beautiful and fruitful relationship.”
DJ Scratch’s illustrious career spans over three decades. From being the opening act for RUN DMC & the third member of EPMD in the 1980’s, to producing eight Platinum Albums along with three Grammy Nominations for Busta Rhymes in the 1990’s to becoming the tour DJ for Jay Z in the early 2000’s and becoming the opening act for Beyonce. This born & raised Brooklyn, NY Native is considered in the Hip Hop World as a 5 Star General. A 2 Time World Champion DJ, Grammy Winner, the first recipient of the Global Spin Awards “Turntablist Of The Year” Award (Grammy For DJ’s) & Scratch won this award 3 years in a row. In 2016, Scratch achieved the highest honor a DJ can receive by being knighted a Grandmaster by DJ Kool Herc (The Father Of Hip Hop). While his status in Hip Hop is undeniable, his talent & brand extends Far beyond the turntables.
When Scratch isn’t DeeJaying, he’s programming his Online Television Network (ScratchVision). ScratchVision (Launched in 2009) is an online TV & Radio Network dedicated to giving the public what was taken off of Music Television (The Music). With a lineup of fellow Iconic DJ’s, Scratch has been able to create a global musical balance by using the power of the internet.
With his Website & Mobile App having the capability of video streaming live shows around the World, Scratch has silently become an internet Mogul. Scratch has also spread the ScratchVision gospel to SiriusXM & FM Radio with his shows “The DJ Scratch Show” on LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio via SiriusXM & “ScratchVision Radio” on New York’s 94.7 The Block. DJ Scratch has mastered the Art of reinventing himself while keeping his identity in the culture & Sub-Culture Of Music. While his music production is responsible for the sale of over 30 Million records, his first love is the turntables.
The concert is being produced by the legendary Hip-Hop manager and producer Charlie Stettler.
