A portrait of DJ Sandman standing at night outside the historic Tampa Theatre in Tampa, Florida. The individual is wearing a black shirt and a Tampa Bay Rays baseball cap while holding a vinyl record sleeve. In the background, the glowing marquee lights display "Established Oct. 15, 1926. — DJ Sandman outside Tampa Theatre in Tampa, Florida in 2020. Credit: Ash Dudney / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Nick Major has always been about unity

A member of the late-1980s Bay area hip-hop group The Dedicated Brothers, Major doesn’t get out much anymore due to a medical condition, but this weekend, his friends have organized to stage one more “Unity Jam” at Crowbar (which, if you’re sleeping under a rock, is closing before August).

“It’s unfortunate that he can’t be there in person,” DJ Sandman told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “He picked all these artists out, and we’re going to show Nick a lot of love. He’s always been a part of this hip-hop community.”

Sandman is on the bill along with Kraze, and some of the most active, tried-and-true, emcees of the underground scene, including Hyfa and Lyricah Love. A fly-in from 2 Fly Eli, who goes back to the days when WMNF DJ (and emcee) Kenny K was the pied piper of the local rap scene, makes this final jam that much more special.

Cover for The Final Unity Jam at Crowbar in Ybor City on Wednesday, June 24 is $5 at the door.