Photo by Chris Sykes One of the Nufamm Custom Cave employees announces that the East Orange Police Department was shutting down the Community Arts Social event inside the clothing company warehouse on Friday, Aug. 26, because some attendees were loitering outside the venue.
One of the Nufamm Custom Cave employees announces that the East Orange Police Department was shutting down the Community Arts Social event inside the clothing company warehouse on Friday, Aug. 26, because some attendees were loitering outside the venue.
EAST ORANGE, NJ — The East Orange Police Department broke up the Community Arts Social hip-hop, art, culture and poetry event at the Nufamm Custom Cave warehouse and clothing store on 11th Avenue on Friday, Aug. 26.
But the good news is that nothing bad happened at the event although the police stopped the concert just as it was really about to begin at about 11:15 p.m. because attendees were loitering outside the warehouse, which is located in a residential neighborhood.
Despite that, Troyce Ward, owner of the Nufamm Custom Cave, said his overall takeaway from the event was positive.
“It’s all good. Police didn’t harass us like what’s been happening lately, so we good. We still had a good event. It was an hour short, but it was a great event. Performers were up there and did their thing. … Thumbs up!”
Saif Muhammad, another organizer, said he had a vision of creating a space where he could combine hip-hop, rhythm and blues, spoken word poetry, DJs and a live band to showcase the local talent in East Orange, as well as providing local designers and artists with an opportunity to display and sell their creations. He said his vision came to life briefly at the Nufamm Custom Cave.
“I’m just happy that people came out; enjoyed themselves,” said Muhammad on Saturday, Aug. 27. “I just wanted to try to showcase my vision.”
Orange Joe, of Purple Spirit, another event collaborator, agreed the police coming to shut down the concert and cultural event was disappointing, but said he wasn’t going to let it get him down.
“Purple Spirit is a company predicated on empowering the urban community, that’s all we’re trying to do,” said Orange Joe on Saturday, Aug. 27. “We’re trying to empower through service, education and showcasing, like we did tonight. We just trying to showcase vendors and all the positivity that happens in the urban communities because sometimes we just get a bad rap.”
DJ Noso said Muhammad’s vision unfortunately ran into the reality of the logistics, but it was all about positivity.
“It’s pretty typical sometimes for the young urban community to get riled up and go out of their way and that’s why they basically shut it down,” said DJ Noso on Saturday, Aug. 27. “But that’s what we’re here for, to try to keep everybody together, calm down and communicate with each other. So you know it’s all about positivity.”
“I just want to say thanks to the fellas that did the event; it was beautiful,” Ward said. “We had an event where nobody got hurt. Everybody went home safe and everybody that was here had a good time, enjoyed themselves, and that’s the main thing.”
Orange Joe said everyone who attended the event knows “something’s in the pipeline” for a follow-up event.
“It’s good; I’m exhausted — this was a lot for my first event,” said Muhammad. “I’m loving the love. I just wanted to show Jersey that it’s all love. We’ve got a sound and talent here that people just overlook. Even the people that live here. They don’t need to do that.”
Attempts to contact the East Orange Police Department for an comment about shutting down the event were not successful by press time this week.
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