Summer Jam 2025 Opens with Newark Artists, Thanks to DJ Drewski and Mayor Baraka’s Vision

When Politics Meets the Pavement: Why Mayor Baraka and DJ Drewski’s Summer Jam Play Is Bigger Than Music

There are moments in hip-hop where the culture, the community, and the political class intersect in a way that feels like history not headlines. That’s exactly what happened when Mayor Ras J. Baraka and HOT 97’s DJ Drewski announced the return of the Summer Jam 2025 Festival Stage in Newark, NJ, as the official kickoff to Summer Jam 2025.

And let me be clear: this ain’t just another music event, This is unprecedented.

In a city like New York, arguably the birthplace and heartbeat of hip-hop, how many DJs with real platforms are giving local artists a stage this massive? I’ll wait. Most gatekeepers keep the gates closed. DJ Drewski, on the other hand, is handing out keys.

Let’s get into the facts first. The Festival Stage, a FREE outdoor event at Mulberry Commons Park across from Prudential Center, is headlined by rising stars like Busta Rhymes , Zeddy Will, Honey Bxby, 2Rare, and DJ Drewski & Friends. But the most powerful part? Newark artists get that first hour. DJ Taj, Trece7ev, Rolling Stone P, Monique The Star, Zaraye, and Unicorn, representing the soil they come from, in front of their own people, on a stage backed by HOT 97 and the City of Newark. That doesn’t just happen every day, it rarely happens at all.

What Drewski has done here is something most DJs on his level wouldn’t even consider, he made room. And not just in a quiet, behind-the-scenes way. He and HOT 97 are leading with it. Most DJs with Drewski’s reach are focused on major-label co-signs, clout-heavy features, or chasing virality on TikTok. But Drewski understands something more eternal, value in community, value in roots, value in cultivating the next generation before they blow. This is a strategic and heartfelt love letter to local talent, and in 2025, that’s revolutionary.

I’ve been covering music long enough to know that artists rarely get these kinds of looks unless they’ve already “made it.” And yet here we are, with Mayor Baraka helping set the stage for these artists to have a global spotlight during one of the most iconic hip-hop nights in America. It says a lot about his vision, not just for Newark, but for how politicians can connect with a younger generation that’s often disillusioned and checked out when it comes to REAL life.

Most politicians preach from podiums. Mayor Baraka just plugged into a sound system, And trust me, the streets will listen.

He didn’t show up in a suit with talking points. He showed up with access. He brought the culture closer to City Hall and said “Here. This is yours too.” For the younger demo that feels left out of political conversations or sees government as something that only matters during elections, this is the kind of move that actually resonates. It’s not performative. It’s practical. Baraka is tapping into hip-hop’s oldest and truest function: giving a voice to the voiceless.

And for HOT 97, this is a bold flex too. In a media era where legacy brands are struggling to remain relevant, this move proves they still get it. Instead of fighting over who’s “real hip-hop” and who’s not, they’re investing in the next hip-hop. That puts them ahead of any of their counterparts, radio or otherwise. Other stations might throw a concert. HOT 97 built a bridge.

So now we have Drewski, the bridge-builder. Mayor Baraka, the political plug. And Newark, the stage. This alliance is more than music. It’s cultural infrastructure. It’s what happens when the local becomes legendary. It’s an elevation of both artist and audience, and I think we’ll look back on this moment as a blueprint.

This isn’t just about getting on a stage—it’s about being seen, being heard, being felt. If other cities, stations, and leaders are watching, take notes. This is what real investment in the culture looks like.

Because Summer Jam might be the biggest stage in hip-hop,

…but the Summer Jam "Who's Next" Festival Stage?

That’s where the future begins.

Summer Jam 2025 will be June 20th at Prudential Center | Here's the FULL LINEUP

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