De La Soul to Headline Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival

This summer's annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is moving to Brooklyn Bridge Park and organizers have just announced they are tapping De La Soul for a headlining set on July 10. Planned and promoted by Brooklyn Bodega as a means to use hip-hop as a way to promote social and political change, this is the first time De La has participated in the event in its six-year existence.

"To be honest, we have been trying to get De La Soul to headline the Festival since we first came up with the idea in 2005," reads a statement by Executive Director Wes Jackson on the Brooklyn Bodega website. "On many levels they are the perfect flag bearers for our mission to use hip-hop as an agent of change. For over 20 years they have traveled the world inspiring MC's, producers, DJ's and fans alike. I can think of no better artist to usher the Festival into its new home in Brooklyn Bridge Park."

The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival has made a name for itself by coming through with classic local headliners including: Brand Nubian, Big Daddy Kane, Ghostface Killah, KRS-ONE and Pharoahe Monch. Tickets go on sale May 3 at BrooklynBodega.com.