Yonkers is full of creativity. It is a place where music, media, and art meet. This part of New York is special. It is not just another place. It is rich in culture. Every corner, café, and center has its own story. These stories are full of different kinds of art.
In Yonkers, hip hop, media, and art are important. They are not just for fun. They are what make Yonkers alive. The city has a strong hip hop background. It also has new and exciting media. In Yonkers, art is something you can feel.
We are going to explore this city. But it is not just about events or places. It is about a journey in a creative city. Here, every artist and musician makes Yonkers special. They add their own touch. Come with us. Let’s discover music, media, and art. These make Yonkers more than a city. They make it a living piece of art.
Westchester Hip Hop Heritage in ‘We Got Our Own Thang’
Westchester County, known as The 914, has a rich hip hop history. This history is celebrated in the book “We Got Our Own Thang.” It is not just about famous names like DMX, Heavy D & The Boyz, or Mary J. Blige. It is also about early legends. Legends like the Collins Brothers with their ‘King Kong Sound System.’ They battled famous DJs and were part of the hip hop scene.
The book shows Westchester’s role in hip hop’s 50-year history. It tells how Westchester, or “Westcheddar,” is close to the Bronx. This closeness meant hip hop quickly spread to places like Mount Vernon and Yonkers. These places are part of hip hop’s story, just like the Bronx.
The book includes stories from many hip hop voices. People like Ralph McDaniels and DMC from RUN DMC. They share memories and favorite songs from Westchester artists. The book’s goal is clear. It wants everyone to recognize Westchester’s place in hip hop history.
There is also a special Spotify playlist for the book. It celebrates Westchester’s hip hop. The book is available on Amazon. You can even get an autographed copy. The author, AJ Woodson, wants to make sure Westchester gets its respect in hip hop.
Hudson River Museum Launches ‘Free First Fridays’
The Hudson River Museum is making Friday nights special. They have started “Free First Fridays” as announced by The Yonkers Ledger. This means every first Friday of the month, the museum is free. It starts at 5 pm and goes until 8 pm. This idea is supported by the Art Bridges Foundation.
What you can expect are a lot of fun things. There will be live music and dance. You can also make art and there is a cash bar for drinks. Each month has something different. December has “Gilded Holiday Glow.” It has music from Diverse Concert Artists. They play many types of music. The museum will look like a Victorian holiday. There are holiday tours and an art workshop too.
January is “Music Under the Dome.” The Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra will play. They will be in the Planetarium. There will be cool visuals on the dome. You can also join a sketching workshop. February is about love. It is called “A Night of Romance and Rhythms.” There will be a play reading and music by DJ Sunny Cheeba. The theme is love and intimacy. You can also do art at a workshop.
March celebrates Women’s History Month. There will be a ballet by MorDance. It is called “Humanism.” It is about human rights and women’s progress. The ballet will move through the galleries. Jeana Wunderlich from the museum is excited. She says these events are for everyone. The museum wants to connect people through art, science, and history.
Yonkers Welcomes New Mediapro TV Production Hub
Yonkers is becoming a big name in film and TV. Thanks to Mediapro North America and Great Point Studios, a new studio is coming. They started building it on November 6th. It is at 1050 North Broadway. Next fall, it will open. It will have 30,000 square feet of soundstages.
Mediapro is known worldwide. They make and share content. Now, they are growing in the US. They are working with Great Point Studios. This partnership brings together a lot of experience in TV and film. Robert Halmi, co-founder of Great Point Studios, is excited. He has worked on over 400 films and TV shows. He says Yonkers is now the top place in the US for making films and TV. People are coming to Yonkers for this.
Yonkers is being called “Hollywood on Hudson.” Mayor Mike Spano is happy about this. He says the new studio will help the city grow. It will create jobs and make the economy stronger. The Mediapro facility will be big. It will have two big soundstages and office space. There will be rooms for make-up and visual effects. Great Point and Mediapro have bigger plans too. They want to build a 32-acre campus on Hawthorne Street. They also plan to start a school for media.
Yonkers Library Jazz Joins Arts Initiative
The Library Jazz Band is a gem in Yonkers. They are ready to wow people with two new shows. This is happening in the 2023-2024 season. Thanks to a grant from ArtsWestchester, these shows are free.
The band has 17 members. They are musicians and teachers from Yonkers, the Bronx, and Westchester. They love big band jazz. They play classic tunes and new versions of songs by artists like the Rolling Stones and Stevie Wonder.
The first concert is called “The Stars in Our Backyard! Library Jazz Band Salutes Local Luminaries, then and now.” It is on Sunday, November 19, at 2 pm. It will be at the Yonkers Public Library, Grinton I. Will Library. There is also a second concert planned for Spring 2024 at the Riverfront Branch.
These concerts celebrate Yonkers’ music history. They honor local stars who have shaped the city’s sound. The band will play songs from people like Ella Fitzgerald and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Some famous musicians are joining in. Ralph Lalama, a three-time Grammy winner, will play the tenor saxophone. Amy London, known for her jazz and Broadway vocals, will sing. The band’s own members, like pianist Sarah Jane Cion and trumpeter Ron Horton, will also perform.
The Library Jazz Band is getting ready for a great season. The ArtsWestchester grant shows how much Yonkers supports local artists. These concerts will mix old and new music. They will show the lively spirit of Yonkers’ music legacy.
Sheek Louch’s ‘Gorillaween’ Mixtape Release
This Halloween, hip-hop fans got a spooky surprise. Sheek Louch, a rapper from Yonkers, released a new mixtape. It is called “Gorillaween 5.” Sheek Louch is part of The LOX. He is back with this new mixtape after a break in 2021. “Gorillaween 5” has eight tracks. It features other rap stars like Raekwon, Dyce Payne, and Tony Moxberg. The music is made by talented producers. They include Luxury Music and Big Snype Beats.
Before this, Sheek Louch released “Beast Mode 5” in November 2022. It had songs with Jadakiss, Styles P, and Fat Joe. These are big names in hip-hop. Even though Halloween is over, “Gorillaween 5” will keep playing. It’s a mixtape that will stay on hip-hop playlists. It’s a treat for fans who love Sheek Louch’s music.
DMX Tribute Exhibition Celebrating Rapper’s Legacy
This Friday, Yonkers Arts hosts a special event. It is the opening of “Let Me Fly,” a tribute to DMX. DMX was a legendary rapper from Yonkers. This exhibition celebrates his life and music. “Let Me Fly” shows DMX’s story through art. Local artists from Yonkers made these pieces. They show how the community helped DMX become a star. Ray Wilcox of Yonkers Arts curated the exhibition. It is a tribute to DMX’s journey and impact.
At the heart of the exhibition are photos and mixed media works. Photographer Shareif Z, also from Yonkers, contributed a lot. His photos cover almost two decades of DMX’s career. They give a close look at his life and work. Def Jam and Timberland helped make this exhibition happen. “Let Me Fly” is more than art. It is a heartfelt tribute to a Yonkers icon. It keeps DMX’s legacy alive in Yonkers and beyond.
Conclusion
As we wrap up our journey through Yonkers, it is clear this city is a melting pot of creativity. From the rich hip hop roots of Westchester to the new beats of Sheek Louch’s “Gorillaween,” Yonkers thrives on music. The Hudson River Museum’s “Free First Fridays” bring art to life. The Mediapro TV hub is turning Yonkers into a media hotspot, and the Library Jazz Band shows how deep the city’s artistic soul goes.
Yonkers isn’t just a place. It is a vibrant community where music, media, and art blend beautifully. Each initiative, each artist, each event adds a unique color to Yonkers’ cultural canvas. This city proves that when music, media, and art come together, they create something special. So, whether you are a local or a visitor, Yonkers has something for you. It is a city where art is alive and waiting for you to explore. Come see it, hear it, and feel it for yourself. Yonkers is not just a city. It is a celebration of creativity.
Amanda Byers is a graduate of Columbia, where she played volleyball and annoyed a lot of professors. Now as Zobuz’s entertainment and Lifestyle Editor, she enjoys writing about delicious BBQ, outrageous style trends and all things Buzz worthy.
