Thirty years after Nocturnal and Da Storm dropped, Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C. of the Boot Camp Clik perform the classics in the middle of Bed-Stuy — free, outdoors, in Herbert Von King Park, presented by Duck Down and Mass Appeal. This is '90s Brooklyn hip-hop celebrated exactly where it came from, with the neighborhood as the co-headliner. If you love the golden era — or want to feel what a real Brooklyn park jam is like — no ticket in the city beats this one.
What to expect
A multigenerational Bed-Stuy park crowd, DJs spinning Duck Down catalog between sets, and rugged-era anthems performed with surviving Clik members and guests. It's equal parts concert and neighborhood reunion, with families on blankets at the edges and the pit up front rapping along.
Good to know
- Free and open to all — no ticket needed, but the field fills up for headline sets
- Herbert Von King Park is closest to the G at Bedford-Nostrand and the J/M/Z at Myrtle Ave-Broadway
- Bring a blanket or low chair for the lawn edges; the front is standing
- Neighborhood spots around Tompkins and Marcy Aves are great for pre-show food
- SummerStage neighborhood-park shows are rain-or-shine except severe weather
- A strong pick for hip-hop heads and anyone chasing real-deal Brooklyn culture
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Common questions
What are Nocturnal and Da Storm?
The 1996 debut albums from Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C., two arms of Brooklyn's Boot Camp Clik — cornerstones of gritty mid-'90s New York rap, both turning 30.
Is this show really free?
Yes — it's part of SummerStage's free neighborhood-park series from City Parks Foundation, presented with Duck Down Music and Mass Appeal.
