Arrested Development, the legendary hip-hop band that eschewed the gangsta sound that dominated rap in the early 1990s, will be headlining the free Uptown Jazz Festival. Set to take place at Houghton Park on the Northside for its 14th iteration, this year’s event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 2 from 2PM to 7PM.
“The Uptown Jazz Festival is a highly anticipated annual event. It brings our community together in celebration of music, culture, and unity,” said 9th District Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie. “This free event welcomes thousands annually with celebrated musical artists who bring a sound for every generation. And I’m proud to host it once again in the heart of North Long Beach. It’s where families, neighbors, and visitors alike can enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, delicious food, local vendors, and community at this all-day festival.”
For those in Long Beach that—for some reason—might not know who Arrested Development is…
Arrested Development emerged in the early ’90s as a bold and much-needed counterpoint to the rising wave of gangsta rap. Formed in Atlanta in 1988 by frontman Speech (Todd Thomas) and turntablist Headliner (Timothy Barnwell), the group fused things that were thought to be incompatible at the time. Cocially conscious lyrics with Afrocentric themes. Live instrumentation with a deeply rooted Southern sensibility. Their sound—equal parts hip-hop, soul, funk, and spiritual uplift—felt less like a product of the streets and more like a sermon from the soil…