How Philly's Hip Hop in the Park became a tour de force

Driving the news: This Saturday marks five years for Hip Hop in the Park, a milestone celebration headlined by DJs Rich Medina and Cosmo Baker expected to draw about 15,000 people to Eakins Oval.

• This year's festival lineup — incorporating all four elements of hip-hop (MC-ing, DJ-ing, break dancing and graffiti) — is DJ-heavy, with someone new spinning every half-hour.
• It also includes appearances from Philly underground rap legend The Last Emperor and the Juice Crew's Craig G.

The intrigue: Now that the future of Jay-Z's Made in America festival remains in limbo, these free, community-focused events take on elevated importance, Rodriguez tells Axios.

• Hip Hop in the Park is a truly Philly affair, with talented graffiti artists once again live painting on a box truck donated by Human Robot Brewery, which is releasing a special-edition lager for the event.
• Herr's — the local potato heads known for concocting quirky new flavors — is giving away thousands of bags of chips.

Zoom in: The festival has grown from humble roots, with no budget or backers when it started as a 2018 fundraiser at a small North Philly park with about 200 attendees.

• But Rodriguez had proof of his concept. In 2021, he had a small budget, and German-based streetwear and sneaker giant Snipes (its domestic headquarters are in Philly) agreed to sponsor the show, which was moved to the Oval. It's grown there ever since.
• Now the fête boasts 20 loyal sponsors and a $50,000 spending plan.

What they're saying: "This has been out of love," he tells Axios. "When you put the community first, the people get it."

If you go: RSVP. 2451 Benjamin Franklin Parkway; noon-9:30pm.