Sampling is the argument at the center of hip-hop — how a borrowed bar becomes somebody else's song — and The Soapbox has built a whole series around it. Volume II lands at the Marcus Garvey Park SummerStage site from a Harlem company that has taken this work to the Apollo, Lincoln Center and Symphony Space. Free, all ages and three hours outdoors: if you do one Harlem night this summer, weigh this one first.
What to expect
The SummerStage site in Marcus Garvey Park fills from the Mount Morris Park West side, so arrive early if you want to be near the front. Expect a three-hour program threading live performance through the records it draws on, and a crowd that treats the park as a neighborhood gathering rather than a concert. The final billing sits on City Parks Foundation's page.
Good to know
- The 2/3 to 125th Street or the 4/5/6 to 125th Street both leave a short walk to Mount Morris Park West.
- Free, all ages, no ticket — but City Parks Foundation shows fill, so come early for a good spot.
- Seating is limited, so a blanket or a low folding chair is worth carrying.
- Check the City Parks Foundation page for the final lineup, which was still being announced.
- All ages and no ticket, so it works as a drop-in with kids or a group.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
Is it free?
Yes. It is a free City Parks Foundation SummerStage event, all ages, with no ticket required.
Where in Harlem is it?
Marcus Garvey Park, at 18 Mount Morris Park West in central Harlem, is the SummerStage site hosting it.
Who is performing?
The lineup was still being announced when we checked. City Parks Foundation's event page carries the final billing.
More this weekend
