Funk Flex, Shaq, and Flo Rida performed for thousands at Jersey City’s 4th of July festival yesterday, headlining a free event that also featured local vendors and performers.
“After two years of not doing anything like this, it’s really exciting to put this back together. All day we have local artists, about 30 food trucks – most of them are Jersey City oriented,” Mayor Steven Fulop said.
“It’s been a good economic driver, an opportunity to highlight the city, showcase the great things that are happening in this area and it’s been a good day so far.”
The festivities began at noon, with J-Nice opening the show, followed by Katja, Dv8tor Dance Team, and Anointed Friends for the early crowd.
For the mid-afternoon listeners, Lux Performing Arts, Surati for Performing Arts, Peteryxcraze, Dibiasi, and DXP hit the stage, while Paris got everyone going for Funk Flex.
The Hot 97 host tailored his set for “the 25 and up” crowd on hand, playing hits ranging from techno favorite “The Pecolator” to the Bon Jovi classic “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
His performance was followed up by Shaq, who goes by the stage name Diesel. The former Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers star played a house-heavy set that got the thousands in the crowd going.
“Jersey: I’m back!,” the Newark native reminded listeners on several occasions.
The live performances concluded with Flo Rida, who got the crowd jumping with hits such as “Good Feeling” and “My House” before fireworks erupted on the Hudson River.
The Big Diesel came. Damn nice of him.