Slimkid3 from the Pharcyde screamed, "We're doin' this for Reefa!" and the crowd went wild. Later, Jay Swift, the group's first producer, jumped into the audience, and they completely lost their minds.
It was a fitting hip-hop tribute at the old-school-style block party, where the four elements of rapping, DJing, dancing, and graffing came together with skating, brews, barbecue, social consciousness, and lasers.
It was an awesome party. Here are some pictures.
See also: The Pharcyde's Slimkid3 Explains Every Track From Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
The event started at 4p.m., and there were free #JusticeForReefa shirts in the art gallery.
The girl in the blue was selling cupcakes.
When we got there, The Politix were on stage. What a great party band.
They played a mix of tributes and originals that had the early crowd feeling good and smiling.
There were two bars, and never a long line or problem with getting an ice-cold drink
Across the alley, graffiti...
Then DJ Heron dropped a set "for all the real hip-hop heads!" And also cut live over a beat he made on the spot.
Inside, Oscar Fuentes, the Biscayne Poet was pounding out verses on a typewriter.
And a few b-boys warmed up for the cardboard dancefloor taped down to the bricks by the stage outside.
Nearly 100 pieces filled LMNT's 3,000-square-foot gallery. Around 50 of them were fine art works by Reefa.
Reefa had one whole wall to himself and the rest of the space was shared by other artists.
Day turned to night and more people showed up. It kept the bartenders busy and moving.
ArtOfficial hit the stage and rocked a set of next-level jazz and hip-hop that showed great strength, precision, and lyrical/musical virtuosity.
And more people kept showing up.
Then seemingly out of nowhere, a steel door rolled up and a guy named Hydra using infrared laser MIDI triggers threw down a set of operatic techno by conducting an orchestra of sound and light on a custom-made arsenal of high-intensity beam shooters.
And the crowd kept building and building.
Someone tapped the mic and announced that it was Slimkid3 from the Pharcyde's birthday. The fine ladies of The Politix sang to him, and a little girl brought him cupcakes.
Then the group hit the stage and tore it up.
They played all their classics from the first album, Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde.
There were even syncopated dance breaks
Many audience members knew every word to every song
And there were many smiling faces.
The group gave a huge shout-out to Reefa, said "Fuck the police," and wished everyone a good night. It was awesome.
Follow Crossfade on Facebook and Twitter @Crossfade_SFL.
