Brooklyn, NY – After last year’s Afropunk cancellation, due to Hurricane Irene, hip-hop heads all over the boroughs anxiously awaited its return at Commodore Battery Park on August 25th and 26th.

The two-day  lineup included performances by Erykah Badu and The Cannabinoids, Gym Class Heroes, Janelle Monae, TV On The Radio, Cerebral Ballzy, Alice Smith, Reggie Watts, Das Racist and numerous other greats. Colored hair hipsters, groovy vibes, bohemian skirts and skateboards surrounded the area overtaken by the scent of ethnic foods and nature.

With this being my first year in attendance, yes my first year, I didn’t quite know what to expect. I figured it’d be something close to Rock The Bells, but what I found is that this setting was more intimate. It was more close, more appreciative and all around soothing. Not that RTB isn’t all of the things mentioned above, but with the one year hiatus forced upon Afropunk it just seemed to be the golden child that was lost and now found.

For years, the art of hip-hop has been neglected. It’s been shunned on radio waves unless hitting a ‘mainstream’ target and almost forgotten. The Afropunk festival has served as a reminder; a bow-tie around one’s finger that hip-hop indeed does still exist!

Below are a few shots I got while appreciating the essence that surrounded me. Check ‘em out.