Dave Chappelle is putting together a block party in support of the victims of the Dayton shooting. The free benefit concert, called Gem City Shine, will be held at the Oregon District at 4 p.m. this Sunday (August 25).
“This event will honor the lives lost and to reclaim the community’s favorite places to shop, dine and enjoy time with family and friends,” a Facebook event page stated.
The comedian famously hosted a 2004 block party which was documented and made into a film, Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. Although he’s a Washington D.C. native, Dave Chappelle spent a lot of time growing up in Yellow Springs, Ohio and he currently resides there.
The location of the block party is where the shooting went down on August 4th. The gunman, Connor Stephen Betts, killed nine people including his sister, and injured more than two dozen before the police fatally shot him.
Shortly after the mass shooting, many public figures like Rihanna spoke out about the tragedy. And now Chappelle is taking action.
For more information on Gem City Shine click here.
Dave Chappelle is using his star power and deep connections in his industry to help organize a pop-up block party in honor of the shooting tragedy in Dayton, Ohio. Chappelle, who lives 20 miles east of the city in Yellow Springs, will host the six-hour event this coming Sunday.
The City of Dayton, along with the Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce, will help organize Gem City Shine “to honor those affected by the Oregon District shooting and reclaim the Oregon District as a place to gather, eat, and shop during a #DaytonStrong block party. There will be beer, live entertainment, food vendors (restaurants and trucks), and more.”
“It’s important that we acknowledge that this awful tragedy happened and then…reclaim the spaces in the Oregon District that we love,” explained Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership.
In addition to Chappelle, local and national entertainment will be featured on a main stage located near Fifth Street and Wayne Avenue. Performances will be throughout the afternoon and evening. The whole event is expected to run from 4 pm until 10 pm.
The outlet adds that security for the event will be airtight and that metal detectors will be used at all gated entryways.
Next week we’re taking over Brooklyn to celebrate the B.I.G. homie for our annual SOURCE360 Block Party!
This year we’ll be setting up shop on the newly-renamed “Christopher ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ Wallace Way,” and we’re filling the day with live performances, outdoor activities, a fashion show, live art and a special “Unsigned Hype” showcase. It’s all in honor of Biggie’s Block, and the only thing that could make things even better is if the King of Brooklyn could be here to celebrate with us.
In hopes that we’ll see a few freestyle cyphers go down during the SOURCE360 Block Party, take a look at five examples of Big Poppa doing it best:
Teen Summit Freestyle
1992/1993
In his TV debut, Biggie was calm, cool and collected as always. His star power wasn’t in full form just yet, but his flow was fire even in the early days.
Freestyle w/ 2Pac
1994
Watching this rare moment where the East and West were at peace, it’s hard not to wonder why these two legends couldn’t make amends before it was too late for both of them. However, we’ll always have better days like this one to look back on and think of what could’ve been.
Freestyle w/ Nas, introduced by Method Man
1995
This whole situation looks like one big ’90s rap-themed dream, but somehow it actually happened and was caught on tape. Both MCs delivered bars that were dope enough to be used on actual records, with BIG’s appearing on Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s Conspiracy album cut “Oh My Lord” and Nas saving his for “Suspect” off his sophomore LP It Was Written.
Final freestyle on The Wake Up Show With Sway & DJ King Tech
1997
Recorded just days before he was gunned down following the Soul Train Music Awards, this freestyle is just one of few last memories that we’ll forever cherish of Big Poppa. Even 22 years later, his loss is still a hard one to accept.
Biggie at 17 years old in Bedstuy, Brooklyn
1989
We saved one of the earliest for last, particularly because he spit this in the same neighborhood where we’ll be throwing the SOURCE360 Block Party! It’s amazing how things come full circle.
R.I.P. forever, Biggie.
Make sure to get tickets to all of our SOURCE360 Festival events by clicking here. See you all in Bedstuy!
