Summer Jam is the annual hip-hop fest held in East Rutherford, New Jersey and sponsored by New York-based radio station Hot 97FM. Normally held in June, the concert features the most popular acts that hip-hop and R&B have to offer in a particular year.
The hip-hop summer festival format was originally pioneered and popularized by San Francisco radio station KMEL with their large-scale Summer Jam concerts from 1987 through the 1990s and present day. KMEL continues to host smaller versions of the event annually. Similarly, Los Angeles station KKBT held an annual Summer Jam hip-hop concert during the 1990s after hiring KMEL's Program Director in 1993. The concert was discontinued as the station switched formats.
The concert has increasing become a scene of drug use and violence over the years. The most recent festival held on June 7, 2015 included a riot in the stadium parking lot. The disturbance began when crowds of people without tickets attempted to enter the stadium anyway by climbing over the fence and were stopped by New Jersey State Police. At this time, the decision to close all gates to the stadium was made and those in the parking lot were asked to leave. Instead of leaving, the crowd began throwing glass bottles and other objects at police. The police responded with riot gear, armored vehicles, and pepper spray. Multiple arrests were made.
R i o feat u jean summer jam official video hd
Performers
Wu-Tang Clan
Queen Latifah
Arrested Development
Gang Starr
Black Moon
King Just
A Tribe Called Quest
Domino
Nas
Sudden Change
SWV
Performers
The Notorious B.I.G.
Naughty by Nature
Method Man
Blackstreet
Shabba Ranks
Soul 4 Real
Brandy
Performers
Fugees
Mary J. Blige
LL Cool J
Total
Busta Rhymes
Lost Boyz
Color Me Badd
Performers
Aaliyah
112
Puff Daddy
Mase
Lil' Kim
The LOX
Faith Evans
Heavy D
Blackstreet
Mary J. Blige
Wu-Tang Clan
DJ Quik
Bone Thugs N Harmony
Performers
Busta Rhymes
The LOX
Queen Pen
Next
Big Pun
DMX
Cam'ron
Mase
Performers
Jay-Z
702
Ja Rule
The LOX
Drag-On
Eve
Swizz Beatz
Method Man
Redman
Nas
Q-Tip
Missy Elliott
Busta Rhymes
DMX
MC Hammer
Performers
Jay-Z
Dr. Dre
Eminem
Snoop Dogg
Sisqó
Aaliyah
Timbaland
Eve
Drag-On
The LOX
Swizz Beatz
Juvenile
B.G.
Lil Wayne
Black Rob
Sean Paul
Performers
Jay-Z
Beanie Sigel
Memphis Bleek
R. Kelly
Snoop Dogg
Nelly
Destiny's Child
Outkast
Ja Rule
Eve
Ludacris
Performers
Nas - Did Not Perform
Cam'ron
Ja Rule
Ashanti
Missy Elliott
Busta Rhymes
N.O.R.E.
Alicia Keys
Mobb Deep
Performers
50 Cent
Eminem
Nas
Busta Rhymes
Nelly
Lil' Kim
Sean Paul
Clipse
Fabolous
Performers
50 Cent & G-Unit
R. Kelly
Alicia Keys
Ludacris
Kanye West
Big Boi
Lil Jon
Ying Yang Twins
Jadakiss
Chingy
Performers
Snoop Dogg
Game
Ludacris
Kanye West
Lil Jon and The East Side Boyz
Lil Scrappy
Trillville
Pitbull
Ciara
The Diplomats
Cam'ron
Jadakiss
D-Block
Performers
Busta Rhymes
T.I.
Young Jeezy
Mobb Deep
Dem Franchize Boyz
Jermaine Dupri
Three 6 Mafia
Remy Ma
The Diplomats
Sean Paul
Ne-Yo
Mary J. Blige
Jamie Foxx
Chris Brown
Performers
Ludacris
Akon
Chris Brown
Lil Wayne
Birdman
Diddy
Keyshia Cole
Elephant Man
Ne-Yo
Ciara
Young Jeezy
Mims
Swizz Beatz
T-Pain
Rich Boy
Lil' Kim
Summer Jam 2008
The 2008 Summer Jam concert took place at the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts (now the Xfinity Center) in Mansfield, MA on June 1, 2008.
Performers
Alicia Keys
Kanye West
Rihanna - Did Not Perform
T-Pain
Ray J
Yung Berg
The-Dream
Kardinal Offishall
Styles P
Sheek Louch
Public Enemy
Lil' Wayne
Gym Class Heroes - Did Not Perform
Jim Jones (Took Rihanna's Place)
Special Guests
Akon
LL Cool J
Fat Joe
DJ Khaled
Rick Ross
Jim Jones
Shawty Lo
Ace Hood
Raekwon
Swizz Beatz
Tity Boi
Method Man
Maino
Ghostface Killah
Rita G
Young Jeezy
Red Cafe
Fabolous
Jadakiss
N.O.R.E.
Nature
Juelz Santana
Summer Jam 2009
The 2009 Summer Jam concert did take place at Giants Stadium, in East Rutherford, NJ, on June 7, 2009. The concert was being billed on Hot97's official site as "The Final Hip Hop Concert In Giants Stadium History!!!". The show was hosted by Tracy Morgan and Angie Martinez.
Performers
T-Pain
The-Dream
Young Jeezy
Jadakiss
Juelz Santana
Elephant Man
Mavado
Serani
Pleasure P
Jim Jones
Special Guests
Day26
Fabolous
Jeremih
Styles P
Sheek Louch
Busta Rhymes
Swizz Beatz
Method Man
Redman
Drake
Jay-Z
Maino
Lil' Kim
DJ Khaled
Ace Hood
DJ Scoop
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
Ron Browz
DJ Webstar
Festival Village Performers
GS Boyz
Asher Roth
Ron Browz
DJ Webstar
Summer Jam 2010
The 2010 Summer Jam concert took place at New Meadowlands Stadium, in East Rutherford, NJ, on June 6, 2010. The concert Is being billed as both "The biggest hip hop concert in the world." and "New Meadowlands Stadium's first hip hop concert." Artists were announced on May 3, 2010 on The Angie Martinez Show.