Nor’easter Couldn’t Stop the Culture As Hip-Hop Takes Over Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie, NY — On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the 1st annual Hudson River Hip-Hop Festival took over The Academy in Poughkeepsie, NY, bringing together Golden Era legends, underground favorites, Hip-Hop enthusiasts, DJs, MCs, and the culture in one location for a full day and night of pure Hip-Hop!
Curated by SkyloftNYC and hosted by Life Liggy Long (L.I.F.E. Long), the star-studded festival featured a deep lineup of artists representing the sound, spirit, and foundation of the culture, including 2026 National Hip-Hop Museum Hall of Fame inductees Brand Nubian, Mike Gee of the Jungle Brothers, Psycho Les of The Beatnuts, who brought out Nine to perform his underground classic “Whatcha Want,” InI with DJ Steve Brock and the Cella Dwellas who were both celebrating their 30th anniversaries, plus Onyx, Joe Fatal, Ruste Juxx, Royal Flush, Natural Elements, Pozy One, Tiya Phoenix, Originoo Gunn Clappaz, Sauce Alito Bros., Big Dubez of Sporty Thievz and seveal others. DJ Supreme showed the crowd why he is a veteran championship turntablist and battle DJ.
The first half took place outside and moved inside with the grand finale; this was raw beats, bars, turntablism, and generations of the culture coming together in one location, reminiscent of many of the infamous back-in-the-day gatherings of Hip-Hop’s yesteryear.
The festival was originally scheduled for Saturday, September 26, outdoors at the People’s Waterfront Park in Newburgh, but an unusually powerful nor’easter forced organizers to move the monumental gathering approximately 25 miles away to Poughkeepsie, where The Academy, the city’s premier multi-use destination, provided an indoor/outdoor, rain-or-shine home for the celebration. The weather may have changed the location and the date, but ot damn sure couldn’t stop the culture!
Real Hip-Hop came through, represented, and reminded everybody what the culture feels and looks like. For one unforgettable day and night, Poughkeepsie became a home for Hip-Hop!
