Montclair Brewery Will Honor Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary With New Beer

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The Montclair Brewery will be collaborating with New Jersey-based hip-hop DJs “The Awesome 2” on a new beer release this week in honor of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.

According to a news release from the wife-and-husband-owned brewery, “Salute” is a crisp and light golden ale with a golden hue. It will be available in their tap room on draught and cans to go as well as available at select restaurants, bars and liquor stores in New Jersey and New York.

The brewery’s launch event will honor the many aspects of hip-hop and will include performances, graffiti artists, DJs, art and food. The event will take place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4 and Aug. 5 in its taproom and beer garden at 101 Walnut Street, Montclair.

Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite throwback hip-hop outfits. Here’s what to expect on both days, the brewery said:

FRIDAY – On August 4, the Awesome 2 will curate a day of live DJs, food by Notorious BBQ, live drawings, and performances at the beer garden stage and taproom.

SATURDAY – On August 5, there will be an art closing by Corey Lightfoot, graffiti battle, food vendor, a vinyl dig hosted by Bash & Pop records, and graffiti black book signing.

According to the brewery, hip-hop is a subculture and art movement that emerged in New York City in the late 1970s. Young adults living in NYC began to have block parties, using music as an outlet to deal with economic disparities and racial divides. Hip-hop quickly became a global phenomenon, changing music production forever and empowering the African-American and Puerto Rican youth.

Montclair Brewery co-owner and general manager Denise Ford Sawadogo said she grew up in the midst of hip-hop, like many other New Yorkers during that time she was a huge fan –especially of the East Coast rappers like Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa and many others

“I’m excited about hip-hop turning 50 this year and definitely wanted to do something special to celebrate this accomplishment,” she said.

Her husband and co-owner/head brewer Leo Sawadogo is also a huge music connoisseur: his earlier career was as a radio host back in his home country in West Africa. And it was a logical choice to hook up with the Awesome 2 – aka Special K and Teddy Ted – a New Jersey-based duo who have been spinning hip-hop tunes for more than 40 years.

“It's an honor to celebrate the culture that has shaped us and so many others,” Special K said.

“Hip-hop is all about breaking barriers and celebrating diversity, and that’s something we admire about Montclair,” Teddy Ted added.

“I really loved meeting Awesome 2 and learning how they have traveled the world, including to London, and the Ivory Coast to share the hip-hop movement,” Sawadogo said. “When they came to us with the idea of brewing a golden ale for hip-hop’s golden anniversary, I couldn’t refuse.”

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