Umoja Hi-Fi Soundsystem: Ev & Rev Part 3: The Park Jam

DJ Monalisa looks out over the Long Beach Park Jam crowd.

Long Beach Park Jam is a multi-ethnic family-oriented event that happens five times during the summer, from May to September, on the first Sunday of every month. Thanks to a link initiated by King Cokni O Dire, Umoja Hi-Fi sound system DJs MonaLisa, Destroyer, Jun and Culture D all played and represented for the crew at Park Jam.

After an African dance troupe performance, LA hip-hop legend Medusa introduced Umoja Hi-Fi DJs to close out the summer's Park Jam festivities. Umoja crew member MonaLisa was up first and ready for the task. She dropped a set of classic hip-hop jams and funk that had the crowd dancing and singing and rapping along as she set the event in motion nicely for the rest of the evening.

Destroyer was up next and spun powerful uptempo funk classics and a mini-set of early '80s electro-funk that had the dancers, pop-lockers and hype kids forming a dance circle. Destroyer ended his set with a Park Jam favorite: Fela Kuti 's masterful "Water Get No Enemy"

Destroyer & MC Medusa

The Zulu Nation was in the place and Zulu member Rakaa of Dilated Peoples took over mic duties for Medusa as Jun got ready for his hour-long set. Jun kept the tempo lively and whipped the dancers into a frenzy with tribal house sounds and future dance riddims along with the occasional revered classic club track.

As 9 p.m. approached Culture D readied himself, scanning his box of reggae 45's. The Park Jam tradition of closing the summer out with dancehall/reggae vibes was upheld in serious fashion as Culture D played crowd favorites and version 'pon version that sent the Park Jam massive home with smiles on their faces.

It was the end of a great three day weekend for Umoja Hi-Fi who collectively got the "Unity Sound" message out to all who attended the Park Jam. Text by: DJ Destroyer