Turned Up For a Cause: The Temple Spring Block Party.

Text and images by Sofiya Ballin.

Carlisle Street quaked with heavy bass, and tilted slightly on its side after a massive electric slide. The Temple Block Party was back and in full effect, brought to you by Power Hour Musik and Campus Night Out. Created by Saleem “DJ Taaj” Sabree, this was the fourth annual block party.

DJ Jansen, tour DJ for Philly rapper Tayyib Ali, warmed up the block as people filtered in. Hosted by Fese and Philly songstress Jade Alston, the party started with a variety of Temple talent including, Juliana Pache, who opened with covers of “Do I Do” by Stevie Wonder and “On and On” by Erykah Badu. Her set worked like glue, drawing the crowd to the stage.

Monopoly Bread held it down for D.C. and Sebastian Ade did a mash-up of “Hold You Down” by Jazmin Sullivan, “Paper Planes” by MIA and an original song entitled “Spring Fling.” B-Eazyyy took the mic next with chill lyrics from the song “Back,” off of his recently release Heartbreak EP. Status Gang then followed.

However, it was the heated rap battle between O.H.M. and Pharaoh that caused the crowd to swell. Mediated by Mike Voss, a 5-time 106 & Park freestyle champion, the beat dropped and so did the crowds inhibitions.

After two rounds, they demanded one more.

“You got a greedy ass crowd!” Voss yelled.

The next round was a cappella and O.H.M. went in for the kill.

“He swear he’s Tutankhamen but I say he’s just too common!” he rapped.

With shots to O.H.M.’s long dreads and attire, Pharaoh went down with a fight. O.H.M. won and the crowd erupted.

Eric Jamal and Fly Tyy then performed their Temple anthem, “T.U. Turn Up,” followed by DJ sets featuring SYLO and Taaj himself. Mic Stew hit the stage, pounding out his song, “I’m Not From Brooklyn,” from his upcoming album Peace World, which is slated to be released April 23.

The rest of the day was packed with Jersey club dancing, tipsy boo lovin,’ and the inconspicuous smell of cannabis. Students lined the streets – laughing, dancing and cheering. Children jumped in to dance, schooling the college kids, while adults laughed and egged them on.

“These block parties, they have to continue,” said Taaj, who is graduating from Temple this May. “We have to pass the torch.”

Taaj plans to start an event company that will tour urban areas across the country.

“There is a bigger message,” he said. “ It creates a safe environment. When you cast that energy, out people give it back.”

Smoke blew from a nearby barbeque, where resident Maria Davis and her husband sold burgers and hot dogs. As they day wound down, DJ PHSH continued to spin.

“It was great,” said PHSH after his set. “It’s interesting to see how the younger crowd takes to newer music and it’s nice to see everyone enjoy themselves.”

Chino Onwuka of the Philadelphia Advocates for Community Beautification, held a successful raffle to raise funds for paint equipment to help refurbish the very block the students party on.

“The support is overwhelming,” said Onwuka, 24. “I feel like everyone came out for a good cause.

DJ PHSH ended with a slow jam, Taaj thanked everyone for coming out and the street began to clear. Taaj handed out trash bags, encouraging friends and students to pick up the crushed beer cans and fliers.

“This was like my farewell,” said Taaj. “This might have been the best block party I ever did. This one got the message across.”

He looked exhausted but his voice is filled with accomplishment.

The street was clean, without a sign or trace of an 8-hour, non-stop party with 300-plus attendees.

“I think people saw a different side of me,” Taaj said. “I care about my TU family, my 2300 Carlisle family, and my North Philly family. This wasn’t just for Temple. We party every weekend. This was for North Philadelphia.”