Mark Stefanos
Los Angeles is about to get passed the mic. This Saturday, Feb. 14, Black Promoters Collective will debut “DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!” in LA, taking over the Kia Forum for a one-night-only Valentine’s Day spectacle timed perfectly with NBA All-Star Weekend. The all-star celebration of love and music promises to unite Hip Hop and R&B royalty on one stage in a continuous, collaborative experience that has become DJ Cassidy’s signature.
For DJ Cassidy, the moment is personal. “I moved from New York to Los Angeles nearly ten years ago and created ‘Pass The Mic’ in my LA home, so to finally debut ‘Pass The Mic Live!’ in LA is a dream come true,” he tells LA Weekly.
The lineup reads like a definitive playlist of the last four decades: Ashanti, Busta Rhymes, En Vogue, Fabolous, Ja Rule, Lil Kim, and Mya — plus special surprise guests. Cassidy as maestro will weave their culturally definitive anthems into one uninterrupted musical journey.
DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! (Courtesy of DJ Cassidy)
“Sharing a stage with my musical heroes remains my life’s greatest honor,” Cassidy says. “Each one of the music legends on this bill — Ja Rule, Ashanti, Busta Rhymes, Lil Kim, Fabolous, Mya, and En Vogue — has helped shape who I am as a deejay and a music lover, which makes me even more excited to debut ‘Pass The Mic Live!’ in this magical town during this magical time of Valentine’s Day and NBA All-Star Weekend.”
The venue itself adds another layer of symbolism. “From six Lakers championships, to Michael Jordan’s first Bulls championship, to Marvin Gaye’s national anthem at the 1983 NBA All-Star game, to Prince’s twenty-one-night stint, and beyond, so much sports and entertainment history has been made at the Kia Forum,” Cassidy says. “On Saturday night, I will wear that history as a badge of honor, as I unite Hip Hop and R&B royalty.”
The Los Angeles debut follows a string of sold-out triumphs: a historic celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th birthday at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, three sold-out nights at Newark’s Prudential Center, and a groundbreaking Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood that united rap luminaries for a Rat Pack–inspired run on the Strip.
DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! (Courtesy of DJ Cassidy)
“Last year, ‘Pass The Mic Live!’ headlined the NBA All-Star Halftime Show in San Francisco with a tribute to the Bay Area,” Cassidy notes. “This year, we return, but you can’t watch this on TNT. You must be at the arena in person to witness the history, the magic, and, of course, the surprises!”
What began in 2020 as a virtual experiment during a global pandemic has since evolved into a viral phenomenon, a BET television series, a sold-out national tour, and a culture-driving brand. Within ten televised episodes alone, Cassidy passed the mic to 220 legendary artists spanning five decades of music, reshaping how audiences experience the songs they love.
Now, on Valentine’s Day in Los Angeles, the celebration comes home. Tickets and more information can be found here.