Fat Beats closing ceremonies: The end of an era

Outside Fat Beats during the closing ceremonies

This website is normally dedicated to baseball, but I feel as many of you have seen card shops close across the country that you would feel this one.

Labeled "The Last Stop for Hip Hop", Fat Beats served as the mecca for hip hop fans, DJ's and collectors. A legendary fixture in New York City on 6th Avenue, right near the famous West 4th Street basketball courts, hip hop "heads" would often gather to purchase the latest hip hop record and discuss who was next to blow up on the scene.

The inner walls of the store covered with autographed photos and posters of the many artists who graced the store during their record release celebrations. The names on the wall are too many to mention, but it reads like a "Who's Who" of hip hop. On any given day, you could run into a significant artist, DJ or producer who would stop by while they were in New York to see what was new in the "underground". If you wanted a hip hop 12" or CD by an artist large or small, chances are they had it. Customers would often come in with playlists from radio shows such as the Stretch and Bobbito Show or the Halftime Radio show and purchase every single record that was played on the airwaves. The fans demand it and they kept the fiends coming back every week for more. You better have acted quickly though because any record worth its salt didn't stay on the racks too long.

A look at the ceiling of Fat Beats

As digital forms of music began to dominate the market, trends saw a shift away from consumers, especially DJ's buying vinyl records. They now opted for MP3's which worked in their Serato programs that much more neatly held all of their music on a hard drive instead of bulky crates of records. CD sales tanked just as quickly as vinyl and Fat Beats felt the impact of a declining consumer base. Even though it managed to outlast such megastores as Tower Records, it couldn't continue to provide the services of a physical store with the decline in revenue.

This past week had an All-Star lineup of DJ's, MC's and producers performing to celebrate the institution that Fat Beats had become. I attended the closing ceremonies on Saturday September 4, 2010 that included performances by DJ Scratch of EPMD, DJ Spinna, Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul and DJ Premier of Gangstarr. It was fitting that Premier closed out the week-long celebration, as he epitomized the essence of hip hop and vinyl. DJ's across the country immersed themselves in vinyl due to his work and have their crates full of his productions.

DJ Premier rocks the final set at Fat Beats

Its closing represented an end of an era. I had been shopping there since 1999 and I quickly relived the last 11 years of my involvement in radio, DJ'ing and the industry. No longer will there be a central place for "heads" to gather and discuss the culture, find out about local events and take a chance on spending $5 on that artist whose vinyl still remains a go-to record in your crates over a decade later. The chances of another place opening that represented the purity of a culture that roped in my generation to hip-hop is unlikely and it is for that I dedicate this post to Fat Beats. Fat Beats will still remain open online and continue to provide those who thirst for the music an opportunity to get their fix. I don't know how much the current generation will care about its closing, or pine for a hub to replace it, but for many who went through our era of experiencing hip hop emerge, this serves as a reminder that as much as we want to hold on to seasons of the past, the forces of nature will leave us behind as it writes its next chapter. Consider this one closed. RIP Fat Beats.


Caron Wheeler Performing Keep On Movin' At Fat Beats Closing 9/4/10 from Dee Jay on Vimeo.


Caron Wheeler Singing Back To Life at Fat Beats Closing 9/4/10 from Dee Jay on Vimeo.

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Photo by Rubenstein

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During the commentary, the announcers remarked that Morgan was wrong for stealing two bases while his team was down 11 runs in the 4th inning. I disagree with the commentators in this case. If Morgan can himself into scoring position after being purposely hit by the opposing pitcher, why not do it? There was plenty of baseball to be played in that game and if he could help creep the Nationals towards closing the gap by getting into scoring position, then he should do it. Morgan later scored on a sacrifice fly. The game ended with the Marlins winning 16-10, but how many of us have seen games that appeared to be a blowout and were decided by one run?

Leave a comment if you think Morgan was right or wrong for stealing those two bases after getting hit.

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Cal McLish

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Franco Harris, David Cone, Darryl Strawberry, Roy White and Mickey Rivers

The Yankees might have been away in Toronto Monday evening, but the stadium was filled with spirit, the spirit of giving. The Delta 360 Club inside Yankee Stadium played hosted to the Ultimate Yankee Stadium Experience which benefited the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation. The Franciscan Sisters tirelessly devote their lives to help the poor and less fortunate. Supporters that evening were treated to a fabulous tour of Yankee Stadium and the opportunity to mingle with Yankee heroes such as David Cone, Mickey Rivers, Darryl Strawberry, Roy White, Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris and New York Knicks announcer John Andariese. 

The former athletes were more than eager to lend their support to work of the foundation. David Cone expressed his gratitude for being involved with the evening's events. 

“I'm honored to be here, I know they do great work. Any celebrity we can lend that can help sell tickets or raise a little more money is great.” 

Darryl Strawberry shared similar sentiments. 

“I'm excited to be here. I do a lot of charity work myself and I know the importance of what they do. It's for a good cause. Any time you come out it's a blessing to be able to help.” 

John Andariese, the famed Knicks announcer, who is on the board of the foundation, explained how the work of the Sisters with his aunt brought him into the fold. 

“I've had a long relationship with them that goes back about 20 years. My aunt became indigent many years ago. I was desperate to get her settled in a place where she would be comfortable to finish her life out. I started working hard at finding a place where she could live with dignity. I succeeded in doing that, finding a home and hospital in Westchester. She didn't have money, and yet they took care of her on her social security for the last two years of her life. I stayed with the organization after she passed and I am so respectful for these nuns who give their lives to those who have nothing. Today there are 150 nuns around the world giving their lives to this. I am able to get help in the sports world; people like sports and it gathers crowds and helps people to spend some money to do some charity work. That's why we're here tonight.” 

Monday's event was more than an opportunity to tour Yankee Stadium with the legends they watched play on the hallowed grounds, it was an opportunity to assist those who have given their lives to help people in need all around the world. Linda Christian who is the head of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation illuminated the work of the nuns. 

“I hope after tonight people learn about the foundation and the incredible work that the sisters do. The sisters don't sit back here in New York and decide what's good for someone in Senegal or wherever they're at. They go and live amongst the poor and discuss solutions to their problems.” 

With the current economic climate, Christian wanted to assure donors that the foundation prides itself on having transparency with their efforts. 

“If you give me a dollar today as a donation and ask what I did with that dollar, I can tell you what country I sent it to, what program I sent it to and if you give me a week or two, I can call the sister and found out the individual who benefited from that dollar. I think that's very important to philanthropic givers to provide that information. One hundred percent of your donation goes to the programs.” 

Donations to the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation can be made by visiting their website, http://www.franciscanfoundation.org/. Christian wanted to leave the supporters with an important message.

“It's beyond religion, we believe in these incredible women working to help the poor, one person at a time.”

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