The Broccoli City Music Festival has become a Washington, D.C. staple for healthy lifestyle initiatives, great music, and a good time with some of DC’s music executives, tastemakers, media pros, and creatives. Although the wind and rain showed up early for the show, in perfect Broccoli City Festival fashion, it did not keep the crowds away.
Attendees found hip-hop, lifestyle and black culture vendors, and food trucks spread throughout the park along with healthy living nonprofits, and companies there showcasing their products and message.
With a two-stage lineup that included Lil Yachty, Nick Grant, the beautiful Solange and the end of show finale Rae Sremmurd, the Broccoli City Fest was the place to be rain or shine.
While enjoying the show, AllHipHop got some time to connect with a few Hip Hop industry leaders, specifically M-1 of Dead Prez.
“Yea, it means a lot when you combine health, and wellness and Hip Hop culture. That’s what it’s all about.” Says, M-1. “Healthy lifestyle has been a part of me all of my life, even since the beginning of Dead Prez song, Be Healthy, where we talked about veganism early, we knew that a part of us continuing hip-hop, was also being healthy.”
M-1 also shared his partner and Dead Prez groupmate, Stic Man’s development of the new event in hip-hop called “The 10th Element of Hip-Hop, which happens to be health and wellness.
We also snagged a brief moment with Broccoli City Festival VP, Community, and Business Development, Darryl Perkins. We asked him about the mission behind Broccoli City Festival.
“We are trying to “redefine the cool” towards people being active and engaged participants in their community while creating a culture that celebrates and rewards people who are being active, says, Perkins. ”Traditionally and historically, music has moved people and this festival is a culmination of music, health, and wellness along with cultivating good vibes and love.”
Perkins says that he would love to see this festival expand to multiple cities so that they can spread those good vibes and love from city to city. “Dropping broccoli bombs everywhere!”
In the league of some amazing talent, Nick Grant made his D.C. debut performing on the main Broccoli City stage. We got some words about his experience performing and attending Broccoli City Fest.
“I had a lot of fun, the crowd received the music very well, it was a lot of energy and to know I wrote all these songs in my room just to come out and see other people knowing all the words is priceless,” says Grant. “I like people, I like people walking up to me saying this record changed my life, or this record is dope, but it was also inspiring to see all of the other performers. I got to stand out in the crowd and show some appreciation for their work as well.”
When asked if he had any final words, Grant said to “stay passionate through all the BS and embrace all the negatives because the hard times make you who you are, they build your character.”
The Broccoli City Festival has found a great way to incorporate all of the many elements of Hip-Hip as not only just the music but a thriving culture and celebration of our blackness.
