George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars Close "It's Time for Hip Hop in NYC"

Mayor Bill de Blasio presented George Clinton with a framed proclamation naming the day George Clinton Day in New York City

Mayor Bill de Blasio honored George Clinton with a framed proclamation on the stage of Forest Hills Stadium on August 20, 2021. De Blasio publicly declared the day as George Clinton Day in New York City. Surrounded by musicians and politicians, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, the colorfully-clad Clinton said nothing and held high the proclamation for the audience to cheer.

De Blasio also presented the veteran funk musician with a birthday cake in the shape of a spaceship. Clinton responded by digging into the cake with his hand and tasting it. Clinton turned 80 years old on July 22.

George Clinton eats his birthday cake on stage at Forest Hills Stadium

After a set by co-headliner Too Short, George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars closed the night with a two-hour performance. Clinton and his crew performed extended versions of "One Nation Under a Groove", "Flashlight", "Maggot Brain", "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)", "Atomic Dog" and other songs. Although the music was not hip hop, Clinton's foundational funk grooves in the 1970s and 1980s with his former bands, Parliament and Funkadelic, inspired in part the creation of hip hop.

The festivities were part of the closing night of the four-day "It's Time for Hip Hop in NYC" concert series celebrating NYC Homecoming Week. Thousands of vaccinated New Yorkers attended free hip hop concerts in each of the outer boroughs. Tickets were distributed online by lottery in the days before the concerts.

Too Short

The concerts started on August 16 in the Bronx, the birthplace of hip hop. The concert at Orchard Beach featured KRS One, Slick Rick, Remy Ma, Busy Bee, CL Smooth, DJ Hollywood, DJ Jazzy Joyce, DJ Kevie Kev, the Fantastic Five, the Furious 5 featuring Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio, Grand Wizard Theodore, Joeski Love, Kid Capri, Nice & Smooth, PopMaster Fabel, Soul Sonic Force, T La Rock, and the Ultra Magnetic MC’s. The Staten Island concert at Richmond County Bank Park on August 17 featured Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Crystal Waters, DJ Chuck Chillout, EPMD, the Force MDs, Hakim Green, HeeSun Lee, Kool Keith, Lizzy Ashliegh, Pharoahe Monch, Rikki, and Rob Base. The Brooklyn concert at the Brooklyn Army Terminal on August 19 featured Big Daddy Kane, Busta Rhymes, Desiigner, C&C Music Factory, DJ Mr. Cee, Elle Varner, Judy Torres, Lizzy Ashliegh. Maino, Obasi Jackson, Papoose, PopMaster Fabel, Special Ed, Stetsasonic, Sweet Sensation, and Young Devyn. The Queens concert at Forest Hills Stadium on August 20 featured George Clinton + The P-Funk All Stars, Too $hort, DJ Hurricane, DJ Wiz, EPMD, Mobb Deep, and Yo-Yo.

The NYC Homecoming Week celebrations conclude today with a five-hour "WE LOVE NYC: The Homecoming Concert produced by New York City, Clive Davis and Live Nation." The concert will be staged before a live and vaccinated audience on the Great Lawn in Central Park and will air live on various CNN television and online networks.  Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Jennifer Hudson, Journey, Patti Smith, Andrea Bocelli, Kane Brown, LL Cool J, Elvis Costello, Lucky Daye, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. Cynthia Erivo, Jimmy Fallon, Wyclef Jean, the Killers, Gayle King, Don Lemon, Barry Manilow, the New York Philharmonic, Polo G, Carlos Santana, and Rob Thomas are expected to perform.

***

The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music developments as they happen. All photographs are by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise. For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music." For a listing of upcoming concerts for live audiences, visit The Manhattan Beat's August 2021 calendar.