PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Dell Music Center became a living celebration of hip-hop and R&B history Sunday night as Lady B’s Basement Party brought together generations of legendary artists for an evening of classic music, Philadelphia pride and plenty of nostalgia.
The Aug. 23 celebration featured an all-star lineup that included Krown Rulers, Tuff Crew, Tracey Lee, Force MD’s, Kwame, Kool Moe Dee, Large Professor, and Silk, with Lady B serving as the driving force behind the celebration.
This wasn’t simply another concert. It was a reminder of how much Philadelphia and the surrounding region contributed to the development of hip-hop and R&B.
Krown Rulers Set the Tone
The show opened with Krown Rulers, representing the New Jersey/Philadelphia-area hip-hop connection.
The group helped establish the old-school atmosphere with songs from its influential catalog, including “Kick the Ballistics,” “Wreck Shop,” “All Hail the Queen” and “Blackhouse.”
Their appearance was an appropriate way to begin an evening built around honoring the pioneers who helped establish the culture.
Tuff Crew Represents Philly
Philadelphia’s Tuff Crew kept the energy going with the sound that helped define the city’s early hip-hop movement.
The group’s signature record “My Part of Town” remains one of the most recognizable songs from Philadelphia’s golden era. Other Tuff Crew favorites include “Smooth Momentum,” “Feel So Good,” “Open Field Attack,” “Detonator” and “Let It Rip.”
When those songs began playing, it was impossible not to recognize how much influence that era continues to have on Philadelphia’s musical identity.
Force MD’s Bring the R&B
The legendary Force MD’s provided one of the evening’s smoothest transitions.
The group is best known for timeless records such as “Tender Love,” “Love Is a House,” “Itchin’ for a Scratch,” “Forgive Me Girl” and “Let Me Love You.”
“Tender Love” remains the centerpiece of the group’s catalog, and hearing the Force MD’s perform their classic material brought the Dell crowd straight back to the golden era of R&B.
Kwame Brings the Personality
Then came Kwame, whose unmistakable polka-dot image and energetic personality made him one of the most recognizable figures of late-’80s hip-hop.
Among the records associated with his catalog are “The Man We All Know and Love,” “Only You” and “One More Chance.”
Kwame’s appearance provided plenty of personality and reminded fans why his presentation was such an important part of his appeal.
Large Professor Adds Another Hip-Hop Chapter
Large Professor brought his own piece of New York hip-hop history to the Philadelphia stage.
Known for his work as both an MC and legendary producer, Large Professor’s catalog includes “I Juswannachill,” “The LP,” “Stay Chisel,” and “Hard to Be the Man.”
His appearance demonstrated that Lady B’s celebration wasn’t limited strictly to Philadelphia—it was about the broader culture that connected hip-hop communities across the East Coast.
Sweet Tee Brings Old-School Female Hip-Hop Energy
Sweet Tee added another important chapter to the evening, reminding the Dell crowd of the significant role women played in the early development of hip-hop.
The Queens, New York, pioneer—who worked with DJ Jazzy Joyce—became known nationally during the 1980s and released her It’s Tee Time album in 1988. Her breakthrough single “It’s My Beat,” featuring Jazzy Joyce, remains one of her signature records.
Sweet Tee’s catalog also includes “I Got Da Feelin’,” “On the Smooth Tip,” “It’s Like That Y’all,” “Let’s Dance,” “As the Beat Goes On,” “Show and Prove,” “Work Out” and “Why Did It Have to Be Me.”
Tracey Lee Takes the Crowd Back
Tracey Lee brought the audience into the 1990s with his signature hit “The Theme (It’s Party Time)”, along with “All My Love” and selections from his Many Facez catalog.
Lee’s appearance was another example of the Basement Party’s ability to connect different generations of hip-hop.
Kool Moe Dee Delivers Hip-Hop History
When Kool Moe Dee stepped onto the stage, the Dell received a lesson in hip-hop history from one of the culture’s true pioneers.
The legendary MC’s catalog includes “Go See the Doctor,” “Wild Wild West,” “How Ya Like Me Now, ” and “Let’s Go.”
Few artists can speak to the evolution of competitive MC culture the way Kool Moe Dee can. His career helped establish the importance of lyrical competition long before today’s battle-rap era. He even took a minute to do a tribute to his best friend Heavy D.
Silk Closes The Celebration
Silk closed out the evening, giving fans a strong dose of classic R&B.
The group brought its signature songs, including “Freak Me,” “If You (Wanna Know),” “Girl U for Me” and “Meeting in My Bedroom.”
“Freak Me” remains one of the defining R&B records of the 1990s, and Silk’s closing performance gave the night a fitting finish.
Lady B Continues To Preserve The Culture
At the center of it all was Lady B, whose own place in Philadelphia hip-hop history makes the Basement Party more than just another summer concert.
The event has become an annual celebration of the music and artists who helped build the culture. Philadelphia has also recognized Lady B’s contributions, including naming Lady B Way in her honor. The 2026 Basement Party was once again part of the Dell Music Center’s summer concert calendar.
What made the night special was the range of music.
From Krown Rulers and Tuff Crew representing the foundations of East Coast hip-hop, to Tracey Lee and Kwame, to the R&B excellence of Force MD’s and Silk, and the legendary lyrical presence of Kool Moe Dee and Large Professor, Lady B assembled a lineup that crossed generations without losing its connection to the culture.
The result was an evening that felt like a family reunion for longtime hip-hop and R&B fans.
Lady B’s Basement Party once again proved that the music may have changed, but the classics never stopped having a place in Philadelphia.
