Nosa Ehimwenman, Dave Jeff and Jonathan Swain

As long as the partners and principals stay true to that foundation and the culture that built it, the brand can sustain itself.

HPSF co-founder, Jonathan Swain echoed those sentiments ,saying they are more than businessmen and entrepreneurs who created an idea and event to generate money. They are neighbors and residents of the Southside’s Hyde Park and Bronzeville community who see the festival as giving back to the community that has given them so much.

“We are businessmen who are driven at a high level by our values. How we approach it may be different, but our values are aligned and that’s what keeps us grounded. We approach this as neighbors of the community who want to minimize any impact our event may have on the community while providing this brand benefit. We want to continue to make sure that the benefits outweigh the downsides”, Swain said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the genre of Hip Hop. Yes, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of hiphop, with celebrations planned both nationally and globally. Swain, Jeff and Ehimwenman as the festival organizers, they knew that they had to commemorate the occasion with a special tribute featuring some of Chicago’s best and most beloved talent in the hip-hop game.

The festival features a special celebration hosted by Dave Jeff with DJ Mustafa Rocks to celebrate Chicago’s contributions to hip-hop on day two with performances by Do or Die, Crucial Conflict, Vic Mensa, Twista and Shawnna. Dave Jeff says there are other surprises in store for festival attendees. “We are going to curate something special that represents the dope Chicago timeline in hip-hop.” In addition to the Chicago hiphop 50 tribute, rap superstar, 2 Chainz and brothers Pusha T and No Malice also known as “Clipse” reunites to headline the first night of the festival and hip-hop icon, Lil Kim headlines night two.

“This is a huge win for Chicago and the music industry overall, especially since our city’s hip-hop influence is often overlooked and underestimated,” said Dave Jeff, co-producer of Hyde Park Summer Fest

Curating a two-day music festival not only takes business acumen and planning, but it also takes organizers who remain committed to the original vision of celebrating culture and community. Swain says it’s about showcasing the best of Chicago and the southside in particular. “We are always looking to bring different people and different music to the stage. In previous years, we’ve layered a mix of house, hip hop, gospel, r&b, and jazz influenced music to this event”.

This year’s festival also includes afro-beat artists, Uncle Waffles, Oxlade and Tobe Nwigwe, R&B songstress, Alex Isley, and Gospel artist, Johnathan McReynolds. “It’s about capturing the current appetite and culture” says Jeff, “we are thinking broader each year.”

House music also remains a staple of the Hyde Park Summerfest with 2 time Grammy nominated producer and Chosen Few DJ, Terry Hunter returning this year to the festival. Local DJs, Boolu Master, Duane Powell and Dee Jay Alicia round out this year’s house music selectors.

Swain said, “The festival is diverse in the different el- ement’s attendees can enjoy, but this is rooted in our community and our culture but is open to anyone. We want everyone to come and celebrate the best of the southside.”

Nosa Ehimwenman echoed the sentiment, saying, “Why can’t we have our own…built by our own… for our own…in our community? This also creates a lasting impact on our youth who can see three Black men coming together from different sectors to build this great festival.”

The Hyde Park Summerfest is one of those events filled with laughter, good food, curated cocktails, music, beer, good times and memories with family and friends. It’s a celebration of Black joy and the festival’s organizers know they have created a safe space for attendees to relax, unwind and enjoy their neighborhood in summertime.

“We are able to keep this going because we put God first. We pray about this and we create a space where joy can be present. I think ultimately that’s the fundamental foundation of how this works. It’s how different businessmen came together to create joy for our community. Black joy is beautiful…and we deserve it,”cites Jonathan Swain.

Two-day general admission tickets start at $129- and single-day general admission at $79, with prices subject to change. Hyde Park Summer Fest takes place June 17-18, 2023, at Midway Plaisance Park in Chicago’s historic Hyde Park (1130 Midway Plaisance, Chicago, IL 60637).

For more information on Hyde Park Summer Fest’s lineup, tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.hydeparksummerfest.com.