A planned underground rap showcase in Brooklyn fell apart on Monday, September 14, leading to a public exchange between traveling promoters and venue management. The dispute involves Market Hotel, a Brooklyn music venue, and In Tha Fest, a festival based in North Carolina that focuses on underground hip hop talent.
In Tha Fest had organized the New York showcase to coincide with New York Fashion Week, aiming to build an audience outside its home state. The bill was set to feature performances from Percaso and EA TJ. With the show scheduled for September 14, the visiting organizers planned to use Market Hotel as their venue for the night.
Those plans stopped when Market Hotel canceled the reservation. Facing an unexpected loss of their space, the In Tha Fest team worked quickly to salvage the showcase elsewhere in the city. They managed to secure Hello Meadow as a replacement room, moving the bill there in an effort to keep the night alive for the traveling performers and attendees.
The relief was short lived. Hello Meadow followed suit, canceling the relocated event before anyone could step onto the stage. The second cancellation eliminated any remaining chance for the showcase to happen, effectively ending the night for Percaso, EA TJ, and the festival team who had traveled to New York to stage the concert.
The collapse of the event quickly sparked public criticism. NOAHH, representing In Tha Fest, took to Instagram Stories to speak out about the double cancellation and share the promoter's side of the experience. During those posts, NOAHH directed sharp criticism at Market Hotel, explicitly accusing the venue of racism in its handling and subsequent cancellation of the booking.
Market Hotel has since issued a response to the accusations. The dispute illustrates the fragile dynamics that can emerge between touring independent hip hop promoters and local clubs, particularly when out of state organizers attempt to run events during major cultural weeks in New York. With two separate spaces pulling out on the same night, the friction between In Tha Fest and Market Hotel underscores how quickly short notice changes can turn into contentious public confrontations over accountability in live music.
