Newark, NJ is gearing up for one of its most anticipated musical events of the year as Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced the annual 24 Hrs. of Peace festival — set to begin tonight (Sep. 5) at 6:00 P.M. and run until Saturday (Sep. 6) 6:00 P.M.
The free event, staged at South 10th Street and Central Avenue in the city’s West Ward this year, will once again use Hip-Hop’s long history as a force for unity, nonviolence, and a good time.
“Non-violence and peace are critical elements of city life that can always be plumbed to deeper levels, every day, in every neighborhood,” said Mayor Baraka in a press release. “This annual 24-hour event merges Newark’s vibe with the vibrations of Hip-Hop, creating a synergy that yields powerful transformation and celebration. It is a highlight in our year’s long, daily efforts toward harmony and care for one another.”
This year’s lineup is stacked with heavy-hitters across generations, including Allure, Kool G Rap, Jacquees, RL, Case, DaBaby, Jadakiss, Scarlip, Zeddy Will, 41, NJ’s DJ Taj and more.
Mayor Baraka first launched the festival 15 years ago while serving as South Ward Council Member and expanded it citywide upon becoming mayor. What began as a neighborhood call for peace has grown into a major annual tradition that brings together family, neighbors, artists, business owners, and faith leaders for a full day of music, food, resources, and community connection.
Over the years, the festival has attracted some of the culture’s biggest names, including Queen Latifah — who hosted the event in 2022, praising it as “Newark at its best, Jersey at its best.”
Past lineups have featured stars like Fabolous, Faith Evans and Mya, along with notable Newark figures including Jersey Club pioneers Unicorn151, DJ Uniiqu3 and others.
But the event is more than just a block party, it’s part of Newark’s larger Peace Week initiative, tackling violence through community outreach and cultural engagement as the streets of Brick City transform into hubs of food, fashion, art, and fun.
Mayor Baraka explained it plainly to VIBE in 2022, saying, “We say crime and violence is a public health issue. So if you treat it like public health, then there are different ways you deal with it… To change culture, to tell kids that it’s okay to love, to be peaceful, to shake each other’s hands, to say, ‘I’m sorry’… If we make that okay, the kids make different decisions.”
Co-founder and Hip-Hop icon Hakim Green echoed that sentiment, calling the festival “the true meaning of Hip-Hop: peace, love, unity, safety, and having fun.”
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