THIS DAY IN HIP-HOP...BLACKOUT '77

On this day in hip-hop history, 1977, the famous New York City blackout occurred. 

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​On July 13, 1977, New York City experienced a citywide blackout that lasted 25 hours after a bolt of lightning struck an electrical substation in Westchester around 9:30pm.  Not long after, another bolt of lightning struck two power lines causing the Ravenswood 3 power plant in Queens to shut down, leaving the entire city of New York in the dark.
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​Almost immediately, people took to the streets to loot and riot.  The widespread looting gave way to the rise of an entire generation of hip-hop DJs as people stole mixers, turntables, and speakers.  Out of the dark comes the light and the rest is hip-hop history.

One night changed the world of music and an entire city in an instant.  

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Also on this day...

1985 - Run-D.M.C. perform at Live Aid at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.
1993 - Gumbo released their debut album Dropping' Soulful H2O On the Fiber on Chrysalis.
1993 - Ice Cube released the hit single "Check Yo Self" on Priority.
2004 - The Roots released the album The Tipping Point on Geffen.
2012 - Nas released his eleventh studio album Life Is Good on Def Jam.
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