At this point, Fat Beats is an international Hip Hop institution. Founded circa 1994 in Manhattan’s Lower East Side by Joseph Abajian (DJ Jab), it quickly became the premiere destination for all things Hip Hop.
Boasting rare vinyl and exclusive in-store performances from everyone from JAY-Z to Eminem and Gang Starr to Outkast, Fat Beats ultimately was forced to expand due to its popularity. Abajian eventually opened new shops in Amsterdam, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Atlanta.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Fat Beats has announced two special summer shows — one in New York City and another in Los Angles. In NYC, Vinnie Paz, Bahamadia, DJ Qbert, Esoteric, X-Ecutioners’ Rob Swift and Mista Sinista [Da Odd Couple], The Juggaknots, Natural Elements, Last Emperor are among those featured on the bill.
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In L.A., Dilated Peoples, Tha Alkaholiks, Blu & Exile, LA Breakers, Cut Chemist, DJ Nu-Mark, House Shoes and DJ Eclipse will make appearances.
Along with the commemorative concerts, Fat Beats has also dropped an epic 44-song playlist to highlight artists they’ve supported over the years. Jurassic 5, DJ Babu, DOOM, Dilated Peoples, Black Milk, Black Thought, Cut Chemist, ILL Bill, JAY-Z and the late Roc Raida are just a sliver of artists included on the mix.
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The Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Shows go down on July 14 at Sony Hall in the Big Apple and August 10 at The Regent in downtown L.A.
Fans can enter a free ticket giveaway by following the aforementioned Spotify playlist through the link and selecting the ‘Connect & Enter’ button. Winners will be contacted via email at least one week prior to the shows.
Check out the 25 Years Of Fat Beats playlist below and purchase tickets here.
- Vinnie Paz, Apathy, 7L, Esoteric — “Speak Now”
- Your Old Droog, Heems — “Bangladesh”
- Bahamadia — “Total Wreck”
- Roc Marciano — “Thug’s Player”
- ILL Bill, Immortal Technique — “War Is My Destiny”
- Black Milk, Danny Brown — “Black and Brown”
- Vinnie Paz, Tha God Fahim, CRIMEAPPLE — “Requiem For Black Benjy 2 Parts”
- Cut Chemist — “Lesson 4 The Radio”
- El Michels Affair — “Glacier Of Ice”
- Natural Elements — “Live It Up”
- Masta Ace, Marco Polo, Smif-N-Wessun — “Breukelen ‘Brooklyn'”
- Dilated Peoples — “You Can’t Hide, You Can’t Run”
- Blu & Exile —”O Heaven”
- Will Sessions — “The World Is Yours”
- The Alkaholiks — “Make Room”
- Vinnie Paz — “Gasmask”
- DJ Stretch Armstrong, Bobbito, Black Thought, Common, Pharoahe Monch — “Live From The DJ Stretch Armstrong Show”
- JAY-Z — “Stretch and Bobbito ’95”
- Roc Raida — “X-Men Style Beatz”
- Mista Sinista — “September” f. Jean Grae [Instrumental]
- Akinyele — “Rob Swift Make A Little Beat” [Interlude]
- X-Ecutioners, Large — “XL”
- MF DOOM — “My Favorite Ladies”
- Big L — “Ebonics (Criminal Slang)”
- Bahamadia — “3 The Hard Way”
- Clear Soul Forces — “Hit Me Now”
- Juggaknots — “Clear Blue Skies”
- Big Tone, House Shoes — “Homage”
- Natural Elements — “Mayday”
- Black Milk, Black Thought – “Codes and Cab Fare”
- O.C. — “Time’s Up”
- Zack De La Rocha, KRS-One, The Last Emperor — “C.I.A. (Criminals In Action)”
- Brownout — “Shut Em Down”
- DJ Qbert, Mix Master Mike, VinRoc — “Comic Assassins”
- The Beat Junkies — “Scratch Monopoly Pt. II”
- RSXGLD, 14KT, Ro Split, DJ Assault, JMSN, Royce Da 5’9 — “TRUE”
- Diamond D, Big L, AG, Lord Finesse, O.C. — “Day One”
- La Coka Nostra — “Masters Of The Dark Arts”
- Jurassic 5 — “Lesson 6: The Lecture”
- Slimkid3, DJ Nu-Mark, Darondo — “I Know Didn’t I”
- Dilated Peoples — “Work The Angles”
- ohbliv, Fly Anakin, Henny L.O. — “Tweeterz”
- DJ Babu, Doom, Sean Price – “The Unexpected”
- ILL Bill — “Gangsta Rap”
