So the way the I remember her glow up to blow up was as 1) a round card girl for a rap battle in the Ultimate Rap League; 2) a charismatic dose of comic relief on the hit franchise Love and Hip Hop New York for seasons 6 and 7; and 3) a recording artist that went from having a hot lil joint on the radio become a Diamond-selling (that’s 10 million copies) single.
Her ascension to her spot in the game is in many ways a mirror image of the very culture she represents—she too is a child of the Boogie Down Bronx. Now here we stand with accolades ranging from a Grammy Award, eight Billboard Music Awards, six Guinness World Records, six American Music Awards, and 14 BET Hip-Hop Awards from a slew of singles and primarily one album release, “Invasion of Privacy.” It’s hard to argue choosing her as the headliner for what’s unofficially known as the biggest concert of the summer with the highly anticipated 2023 HOT 97 Summer Jam. Not only is this a homecoming of sorts for the headliner, but after more than 20 years, the iconic hip-hop music festival is back in New York at UBS Arena in Belmont Park.
2023 HOT 97 Summer Jam will offer two stages featuring some of the biggest names in hip-hop, while putting a spotlight on the recent rise of women to the forefront of the hip-hop movement. The Main Stage performers include Cardi B, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Coi Leray, Fivio Foreign, French Montana, Lil TJay, Lola Brooke, and a number of exciting surprise guest performances that will make the night even more unforgettable.
The show will also feature a dynamic performance by legendary group The LOX, celebrating 50 epic years of hip-hop and culture.
“HOT 97’s Summer Jam is a hip-hop staple, and we are excited to bring the most electric show of the summer back to NY for hip-hop’s 50th anniversary,” said Bradford Tobin, president, chief operating officer, and general counsel.
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In addition to the main event, the Warner Records Stage at HOT 97 Summer Jam will kick off the afternoon pre-show with host French Montana and feature some of the hottest emerging artists, including NLE Choppa, Kenzo B, 2Rare, Sha EK, McVert, and TQ. From the Main Stage to the Warner Records Stage, the star-studded music celebration is guaranteed to be one of the best Summer Jams thus far.
“The show is all about bringing hip-hop’s biggest stars to the stage, and we are honored to have New York’s own Cardi B as our headliner this year,” said TT Torrez, multi-media personality and VP of artist and label relations. “I am so proud of the strong female presence in our lineup, which represents women’s dominance over the airwaves this year.”
As for the Bronx itself, the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, in association with SAL ABBATIELLO of Fever Records, presented a spectacular display of timeless songs that put the disco in disco fever on Saturday, April 15, 2023. This special concert brought together the most beloved disco stars for a nostalgic journey to the golden era of disco music. Featured performances were by the Trammps, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, France Joli, Lime, Musique, Rochelle Fleming (The Voice of First Choice), Carol Douglas, and the Intruders. It was hosted by Joe Causi and Sal Abbatiello.
Over and out. HOLLA next week. ’Til then, enjoy the nightlife.