The City Parks Foundation has booked a slew of hip-hop acts—including Jay Electronica, Public Enemy, Brand Nubian and EPMD—to perform for free throughout New York City’s five boroughs as part of SummerStage’s 25th anniversary.

The “Exhibit C” MC will start off the festivities on June 1 in Brooklyn’s Red Hook Park. Other acts playing in BK include “The World’s Greatest Entertainer,” Doug E. Fresh coming on June 3, and hometown hero Big Daddy Kane on June 16, both playing at Von King Park. Rap duo Nice and Smooth will also take the stage at Betsy Head Park on June 9.

Brand Nubian will be headlining a show in the Bronx’s Crotona Park on June 23, as well as the man credited with starting hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc, who will man the wheels of steel on June 30.

EPMD and Pharoahe Monch are set to bless Queensbridge Park on July 15 and July 21, respectively, and old-school Staten Island crew The Force M.D.’s are scheduled to play Shaolin’s Tappen Park on July 13.

Public Enemy are set to bring their renowned live show to Central Park on August 15, bringing up-and-comer Blitz the Ambassador along for the ride.

Several R&B artists will also be on the schedule this year. Ryan Leslie, Raphael Saadiq, Jon B and Chrisette Michele are just some of the crooners set to play free NY shows.

For more information and a full schedule of events visit www.summerstage.org. —Elan Mancini

More From XXL