A tradition that began two years ago with Q-Tip and Rich Medina is now a defining staple of New York City nightlife. The weekly party has twice won the “Best Party” title in the Paper Magazine Nightlife Awards, with an additional nomination, and on New Year’s Eve it is returning from a short hiatus during which the phones at Santos Party House were perpetually ringing with pleas for its return. In early 2010, Grammy-winning producer Just Blaze took the party’s reigns, supported by a favorite selector of the hip-hop elite (as well as the New York Knicks), DJ Soul. The two have been slaying the upstairs level of Santos every Friday with a prime selection of hip-hop, soul music, disco, house music, as well as some unexpected twists. The downstairs level has an identity all its own, focused on the best in Caribbean music including reggae, soca, dancehall, reggaeton, reggaetronica and more. Responsible for this invincible mix are DJ Gravy, publisher of leading Caribbean lifestyle website Largeup.com as well as NYC’s most notorious reggae mixtapes, Max Glazer, a skilled Federation Sound producer and selector whose Vybz Kartel track “Whine” is getting ubiquitous radio spins, and their MC Micro Don.
To ring in 2011, reOPENed has upped the ante by adding two living legends to the bill. Clark Kent, the legendary producer who has laid tracks for The Notorious B.I.G. (including Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s classic “Player’s Anthem”), Slick Rick, The Fugees, Rakim, Skillz, and is cited by Jay-Z as a proponent in his rise to fame. Also on the bill is radio legend Stretch Armstrong, who is known as co-host of the newly resurrected “Stretch & Bobbito Show” alongside Bobbito Garcia throughout the 90’s. The two are credited with breaking numerous hip-hop giants including The Notorious B.I.G., KMD/MF DOOM, The Wu-Tang Clan and Talib Kweli, before Stretch moved on to hosting his own slot on Hot 97 and almost single-handedly protecting real hip-hop from going completely pop. Joining the basement bashment will be Jasmine Solano, emerging rapper, DJ, and recipient of the Urban Music Award for Best Female Radio Personality, alongside the inimitable Nire of the Married To The Mob posse.
