'PHILLY PILLARS & PIONEERS' · HIP-HOP x DANCE

Downstage @ the Mann Presented by Cadillac continues on Thursday, August 10! Join us on the eve of hip-hop's 50th anniversary for Philly Pillars & Pioneers: a dance party with legendary DJs Aktive and Cash Money. This celebration of our city's historical contribution to hip-hop will be hosted by Chill Moody and will feature the Project Positive dance crew and DJ Shorty Wop.

Limited tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com and the Mann's Ticket Office.

About The DJs

Philly’s own DJ Aktive has been spinning professionally for over 20 years, making serious moves in his career that have taken him  around the world with some of hip-hop and R&B’s biggest names, including Janet Jackson, Diddy, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Nas, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius, The Roots, and more. A master turntablist and “must-have” DJ of choice when it comes to big-name tours, VIP celebrity events, radio shows, and TV appearances, Aktive knows instinctively the power of energy the music has to make or break any event. 

Since 1984, DJ Cash Money has been pioneering, designing, and defining the art of turntablism. He is a cultural icon in the DJ world and one of the most prolific DJs in hip-hop history. Known in the industry as a DJ, turntablist and producer, he is best known for his pioneering scratch techniques, lightning speed, and fierce musicality on the turntables. Artistic creations such as the “transformer scratch” and the DJ Cash Money Turntable Style Position are just a few of his inventions. Many techniques and styles created by DJ Cash Money have single-handedly revolutionized the technology for djs and the manufacturing of the turntables. He was the first DJ inducted into Technics DJ Hall of Fame.

About Our Community Artist-In-Residence

The Mann is thrilled to announce our 2023 Community Artist-In-Residence: Chill Moody, a hip-hop artist, entrepreneur, and activist based in West Philadelphia. He was named 'Best Rapper' by Philadelphia Magazine and is the official Philadelphia Music Ambassador as named by City Council. Moody, a graduate of Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, will not only be a guest and contributor to many of our education programs throughout the year, sharing his style, creative spirit, and industry experiences directly with Philadelphia’s youth, but will also play an integral role in this season's events celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, including this series.

About Downstage @ the Mann

Hosted and co-curated by Community Artist-in-Residence Chill Moody, this season's Downstage series celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Each performance will feature Chill Moody and a guest artist, highlighting various pillars of hip-hop culture, such as DJing, dance, visual art, and storytelling. Other concerts in this series are One Night Only on June 29 and The Art of Storytelling on October 11.

Downstage @ the Mann Presented by Cadillac places both audience and artists together in the same space, on the Presser Foundation Stage in our TD Pavilion, for an up-close, under cover, open-air setting. This intimate, in-the-round experience offers a new level of performance, engagement, and immersion. Downstage debuted in 2022, earning a 'Best of Philly' award from Philadelphia Magazine.