Eva Marie King's Hip Hop History blog

 Let's talk about Robin Dean, a true SouthSide Jamaica Community Leader  Robin Dean, a daughter of our town of SouthSide Jamaica, Queens (outsiders call it South Jamaica, Queens) is a true community leader and deserves recognition for her tireless service and hard work. As a proud member of the Legendary Dean family, you'd definitely know Robin or one of her siblings if you went to school in the 1970s at P.S. 140 Queens or I.S. 8 Queens, both were zoned schools to SouthSiders "back on the day." So take a minute to give recognition to Robin and her C.S I. motorcycle club for donating backpacks and school supplies to school children every year.  Also, she is currently planning an award ceremony for Park Jam DJs.  I recently watched Robin rollerskating on social media and promoting good health. We definitely need this good information, as those of us we grew up on SouthSide Jamaica, Queens Hip Hop are in our 50s and 60s and must live healthy. Take a little time to give b

Statement on the passing of Black Rob from the SouthSide Jamaica, Queens Hip Hop Museum  Black Rob aka Robert Ross passed away today Saturday, April 17, 2021 and the International Hip Hop Community is once again heartbroken for losing another genius Rapper, way too soon. Kal Dawson, my SouthSide Jamaica brother brought his condition to my attention recently in a social media post. My sincere condolences are extended to Mr. Dawson of Kal Dawson Management, fans, friends and family of Black Rob. I certainly should have been tuned in and abreast of Black Rob's condition, I like to keep the SouthSide Jamaica, Queens Hip Hop Community updated on our Hip Hop sisters and brothers. Please send prayers, thoughts and condolences to Black Rob's loved ones. I always hope and pray for a full miraculous recovery whenever anyone falls ill and I had played for a full recovery. May Black Rob forever sleep in paradise and may his music forever play and give us a reason to remember the

Statement to SouthSide Jamaica, Queens Hip Hop Community from Hip Hop Pioneer Professor MC Eva Marie King, MS  From the first Park Jams at St. Albans Park in Jamaica, Queens, New York City in 1974 through the 1970s when I began MCing at DJ/MC battles, SouthSide Jamaica has always been at the forefront of the Movement and Culture that is known today as Hip Hop.  On any given Sunday in the 1970s there was a Park Jam "going down"  from the New Park on Merrick Boulevard and Baisley Boulevard all the way through to I.S. 8 Park, over to South Jamaica Houses (40 Projects) and finally to Van Wyck Park. Music was always in the air and we as young'uns controlled the Park Jam Movement, simply by taking our DJ equipment to the Parks and Projects and playing our own breakbeats and rhyming.  The term Hip Hop had not been coined yet, but we were surely DJing and MCing.  In 1977 when Fantasia opened on Merrick Boulevard near Linden Boulevard we welcomed popular DJs and MCs such as Grandm

Statement on the passing of DMX professionally known as Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 - April 9, 2021) from the SouthSide Jamaica Hip Hop Artists Museum  We loved those early days of Park Jams in our town of SouthSide Jamaica, Queens and could only imagine that the future would bring us an artist like DMX. DMX was a unique artist and embodied the history of reciting rhymes that my peers and I lived for in the 1970s in my town of SouthSide Jamaica, Queens, New York City.  Though we are now enjoying or double-nickel (55-years-old) and being grandparents, we still love a good rhyme and DMX gave us the original hard beats and rhymes we grew up sharing with friends. DMX may you forever rest in peace and sleep in paradise. You are definitely gone way to soon. You will live forever through your poetic words and rhymes. We believe that you added art to the Hip Hop Movement and Culture that can never be duplicated.  All of those hot summer days of dragging and rolling DJing equipment to the l