New York City’s “Homecoming Week” kicked off in the birthplace of Hip Hop, on Monday Aug. 16, when the first of five outdoor concerts was held in Orchard Beach in The Bronx. The music-filled week was launched as a celebration of the City’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, despite health officials warning that more people still need to be vaccinated in order for the City, and country, to advance towards the much coveted state of herd immunity.

Citywide, as of Sept. 24, just 62 percent of New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, and in the Bronx, that number is 55 percent. Meanwhile, medical researchers have recently said that a minimum of 78 percent is the target.

Nearly 18 months after “The Big Apple” was labelled the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has emerged from that dark time, taking back its mantle as the epicenter of life and culture, once again. All of the acts on the bill for the Bronx show had their roots in the borough, and the event also drew some high-profile, City and State political figures like New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, and State Sen. Jamaal Bailey were among some of the other Bronx public representatives in attendance.

“The Hip Hop culture is just what New York is,” said Schumer. “It mixes, it matches, it’s diverse. We all get together, we all come in and mix and mix and mix, and we’re better than when we started.”

The line-up included many Bronx notables such as KRS-One, Slick Rick, Busy Bee, Furious 5 featuring Grandmaster Melle Mel and Scorpio, Kid Capri, and Nice & Smooth. The rest of the talent was comprised of CL Smooth, DJ Hollywood, DJ Jazzy Joyce, DJ Kevie Kev, Fantastic Five, Grand Wizard Theodore, Joeski Love, PopMaster Fabel, Soul Sonic Force, T La Rock and the Ultra Magnetic MCs.

“Always, coming back to The Bronx is good,” said Hip Hop pioneer, KRS-ONE, whose hits include “Love’s Gonna Get’cha.” It’s like a litmus, not a litmus test, more like a measurement; this is where I started back in 1973,” he added.

The rapper said when he comes back to the Bronx, he goes through all his old neighborhoods. “I reminisce, I think, and say, ‘Well you know, you’re 50 now. Did you really make it in life? Did you really go somewhere?’ You know, this kind of thing so The Bronx brings you right back over,” he said.

New York City Homecoming Week combined forces with the Universal Hip Hop Museum, due to open in 2023. Rocky Bucano, its executive director, gave City officials props for arranging the week-long shows and for harnessing the power and energy of Hip Hop, in particular, to lift people’s spirts after a difficult couple of years.

“Many of the artists performing in these shows are native New Yorkers hailing from the five boroughs,” he said. “It’s their talent, creativity and passion for the culture that spread it from the stoops, parks and playgrounds to stages, worldwide.”

Nice & Smooth members, Greg Nice and Smooth B, agreed and expressed humility and gratitude after performing before the home crowd. “It’s beautiful, man! It’s excellent. There’s nothing like it,” Smooth B said of being back home and performing. Nice echoed the same sentiments, saying, “It’s awesome, Baby! Like, the Awesome Two….like Special K and Teddy Ted. It was awesome!”

Another concert scheduled during Homecoming Week was one on Aug. 17, at Midland Beach on Staten Island, where Wu-Tang Clan members, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, took to the stage. Meanwhile, Big Daddy Kane headlined at the Brooklyn Army Terminal on Aug. 19. The outdoor entertainment moved on to Queens on Aug. 20 when George Clinton performed at Forest Hills Stadium.

All five Homecoming Week shows were free, but attendees had to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to attend. At the Bronx concert, some people who were not vaccinated were seen sitting outside in the parking lot, behind the venue barriers and gates.

They sat out on beach chairs, beers in hand and didn’t seem too bothered that they were unable to go inside, since they could see the stage, the large screens and could hear the music from where they were. It also made for an easy exit at the end of the night.

Homecoming Week concluded on Saturday, Aug. 21, with a huge “We Love” concert on the Great Lawn at Central Park. Scheduled performers included Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Paul Simon, Carlos Santana, and LL Cool J, among others. However, two hours into the show, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning interrupted a performance by Barry Manilow and the show, which was being aired live on CNN, had to be shut down.

Back in the Bronx, Michelle Rodriguez of Queens who attended the Aug. 16 concert, summed up the experience, saying, “It’s so refreshing. I really miss going to concerts.” Meanwhile, Lamont Johnson of the Bronx, added, “This is bringing people together. It’s important for the culture.”