The Two Jays: Jay Electronica Joined By Jay Z + More At The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

Photos by Tyrone Z. McCants for Okayplayer + Zire Photography

Jay Electronica brought out Jay Z to join him onstage at Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival's closing performances Saturday, an event so singular that it's almost like BHHF's organizers told lightning to lick two strikes in the atmosphere for Brooklyn. This meeting of two rap geniuses (hey, the term is up for grabs now) from polar opposites of the hip-hop spectrum is a phenomenon we here at OKP have come to call The Two Jays, and was even more remarkable for the fact that it was only one electric highlight of a run of show that also included appearances from Raekwon, Mac Miller, Buckshot the Beady Eye MC and Brand Nubian among others. Okayplayer and Okayafrica contributor Tyrone Z. McCants was on hand to shoot this gallery of stunning flicks and gave us some firsthand impressions to go with it--read his recap below and scroll down for some selected videos of the performances!

The BHHF 10th Anniversary was a star-studded and legendary event. The organizers at The Brooklyn Bodega crew made sure they did not hold anything back when it came down to producing this "10 Years Fresh" celebration. The performance lineup had a bit of everything for the loyal BHHF attendees; for the longtime hip-hop heads, pioneers like Brand Nubian and Buckshot of Black Moon set the event off with their classics. DJ Rob Swift was on the 1s and 2s demonstrating the art of DJing. Representing the new age of hip-hop, Cyhi Da Prynce put on a magnetic performance, showing the crowd why Kanye West felt he is the perfect addition to his G.O.O.D Music movement. CJ Fly of Pro Era, one of the youngest performers on the bill brought a real live band and new music to the show, from his new album Thee Way Eye See It. The energy generated by Hip-Hop Royalty was felt throughout the event when the RocNation Family hit the stage - Jay Electronica, J. Cole and the Big J-in-Chief, Jay-Z, all took the show to the next level. And how do you close out such a monumental event? You bring Wu-Tang's own, Raekwon the Chef to the stage. This show was by far one of my all-time favorite concerts I have ever attended. I can't wait to see how Wes Jackson and the Brooklyn Bodega family will bring it next year. Long Live Hip-Hop!