Hip-hop artist Eric B at his recent visit at Lakehouse Music Academy

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) – Mother Nature didn’t cooperate with Lakehouse Music Academy’s (LhMA) 10th Anniversary Block Party to benefit Asbury Park Music Foundation (APMF) today, but the change to Sunday, May 21st brings new opportunities for special guests, including hip‐hop legend Eric B. (of Eric B. and Rakim). Eric has been supportive of APMF’s educational programs, which are presented in partnership with Lakehouse Music Academy. Eric will make a special appearance in the afternoon. He and Rakim are also playing the North to Shore festival on June 13 at The Stone Pony in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip‐hop.

The LhMA Block Party will feature an incredible lineup of local performers who are both longtime and emerging figures in the local music scene. In addition to music, there will be local vendors, an exclusive Asbury Park Brewery beer garden, and performances from 12‐7, with a lineup that includes Alexander Simone & Whodat?, deSoL, Des & The Swagmatics, Sonic Blume, Kevian Kraemer, 8dayzstr8, Hooper, Daughter Vision, Quincy Mumford, Chill Smith, and Jake Thistle. Proceeds will be donated to the Asbury Park Music Foundation, which is dedicated to providing access to high‐quality music education programs to underprivileged children in Asbury Park via educational partner Lakehouse Music Academy.

Eric B. and Rakim first exploded onto the scene with the release of the iconic “Eric B. is President” in 1986. Their classic album Paid in Full, which sampled funk and soul‐driven tracks, was monumental within the hip‐hop scene and was named the most excellent hip‐hop album of all time by MTV. Even now, Eric B and Rakim remain one of the most iconic duos of hip‐hop and are considered pioneers in the culture revered by today’s emcees for furthering hip‐hop’s expansion with their unmatched definitive sound.

Eric B. is a hugely influential DJ and beatmaker whose taste for hard‐hitting James Brown samples touched off a stampede through the Godfather of Soul’s back catalog that continues up to this present day. More than four decades later, he continues to blaze trails in music, business and on the big and small screens.

The mission of Asbury Park Music Foundation includes preserving Asbury Park’s rich musical legacy, and one way this is done is by bringing the community together for live music and supporting musicians with opportunities to perform in Asbury Park and surrounding areas. Donations and merchandise sales will support APMF’s music education platform.

The Block Party is Presented by Sackman Realty and Sponsored by: Asbury Park Brewery, Asbury Park Distilling Co., The Break, Crust & Crumble, Fidelity Energy and Sustainability, GOMO Music, Hoyle Law, Lakehouse Music Academy, Lakeland Bank, Madison Marquette, Tony Pallagrosi, Pillari Bros. Construction Corp., Russo Music, Sea Hear Now, Starfield Companies, and Swagger & Blade.