A massive block party outside 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in Morris Heights, which is considered the "birthplace of hip-hop," closed off many Bronx blocks to car traffic Saturday.
There was plenty of room for generations of hip-hop fans to dance and reflect on an art that originated there 50 years ago.
"These are my people," said Crystal Rose, who lives nearby. "All these are my people. I was brought up in hip-hop."
Much like hip-hop itself, lifelong Bronx residents Juliet Lindsay, Deborah Matthews and Rose were all born and bred in the borough where hip-hop originated.
"I grew up in this neighborhood, so I remember when there were parties here at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue," Lindsay, a Morris Heights resident, said. "I actually knew who [DJ Kool Herc] was. I knew his sister. So this is like really epic for this type of event to happen in our neighborhood."
"I was here when hip-hop started," Matthews, a Tremont resident, added. "It was different and it was innovative. And nobody understood it but us. So it was great."
The block party on Saturday was inclusive, bringing together hip-hop fans from countries as far away as Germany and neighborhoods as close as Queens.
Hip-hop producer Jae Supreme grew up in Queensbridge and has produced tracks for hip-hop icons like Nas.
"We had to make our voices because they wasn't giving us what we needed," Supreme said. "We created our own subculture."
It means a lot to him that the music genre that he loves so much is now embraced around the world.
"It's beautiful. It's emotional," Supreme said. "Everything is like love. Hip-hop is love and it's a part of you."