While there’s much debate over the official birth date of hip-hop, there’s one thing for sure: Nas and Timbaland are two of the most influential artists in its more than five decades of existence. And both legendary talents were among the many guests who attended Farfetch’s celebratory launch of Beat 010, which honors hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.
The festivities kicked off in the interior courtyards at Amant, an East Williamsburg kunsthalle. Guests were treated to hors d’oeuvres and custom cocktails crafted by the culinary group Ghetto Gastro (John Gray, Pierre Serrao, and Lester Walker). To amplify the atmosphere, DJ Stretch Armstrong kept classic rhythmic tunes spinning as attendees mingled.
The night culminated when guests moved from the garden to the gallery, where limited-edition items from Farfetch’s Beat 010 were hoisted on the wall. For this tenth release of the concept retail series, iconic musician and co-founder of Queensbridge Venture Partners Nas created a 12on12 vinyl that features 12 genre-defining tracks. The vinyl record’s cover is adorned with an original painting titled “Future Look for Flash” by Futura 2000.
Once, everyone had a chance to take in the collaborative work of art and find their seats at the dinner tables, Futura 2000 grabbed the mic to give everyone a witty, swagger-filled welcome and to salute hip-hop for 50 trailblazing years.