The mayor of New York recently got the opportunity to rock one of Slick Rick’s signature pieces, and it’s not his eye patch. On Monday (Aug. 16), Mayor Bill de Blasio encountered the legendary rapper in the Bronx during a meet up that kicked off New York’s free hip hop concert series. Amid the link up, Slick took off his gold chain and placed it on the mayor’s neck.
“I feel special now,” de Blasio said with the chain hanging from his neck. He later took to social media to express his gratitude for the special moment. “Thank you to Slick Rick @therulernyc for the greatest honor of my career,” he tweeted.
The It’s Time for Hip Hop in NYC concert series — which is a part of NYC Homecoming Weeks — is set to feature a “dynamic lineup” of hip hop artists who will perform throughout the five boroughs within the next few days. The likes of Slick Rick, Kick Capri and KRS-One kicked off the series during yesterday’s (Aug. 16) event in the Bronx. EPMD and former Verzuz competitors Raekwon and Ghostface Killah will hit a Staten Island stage today (Aug. 17), and Big Daddy Kane, Maino, Desiigner, Elle Varner and Papoose will take the stage with their hits at concert that is slated to take place tomorrow (Aug. 18) at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.
“NYC Homecoming Week concerts are the celebration we all deserve and tonight’s first concert in the Bronx will be legendary,” said de Blasio in a statement. “We are beyond excited for communities across the city to enjoy this free performance followed by incredible lineups with the greatest all-stars of Hip Hop in Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens before our historic finale with Clive Davis and Live Nation in Manhattan.” He added that proof of COVID-19 vaccinations are required for participating concertgoers.
See De Blasio’s post below.