Branch Brook Park Skating Rink, nestled within the nation’s first county park, has been a cornerstone of Newark’s recreational and cultural life since its establishment in the 1970s. Originally conceived as a safe, affordable space for families and youth, the rink quickly became
By the early 2000s, Branch Brook Park Skating Rink had evolved into a cradle of Jersey Club Music (JCM)—a genre characterized by 135 BPM tempos, syncopated bass, chopped vocal samples, and kinetic dance styles. What emerged was more than sound: it was a movement. The rink’s polished floor became a proving ground for DJs, dancers, and skating crews alike, offering an alternative stage where battles, beat drops, and communal rhythm shaped Newark’s cultural future.
Branch Brook Park Skating Rink: Birthplace of the Jersey Club Movement
Branch Brook Park Skating Rink is the birthplace of Jersey Club Music (JCM), a high-energy, 135 BPM dance-centered genre and movement forged in Newark’s Black youth culture. At Branch Brook Park Skating Rink, early pioneers like DJ Tameil debuted tracks that would electrify regional parties and global airwaves. The rink’s inclusive environment welcomed underserved Black youth, serving as a dance floor, concert stage, and cultural incubator. From battles to beat drops, BBPSR sparked a movement that redefined Newark as a cradle of creativity and liberation.
Black Heritage Trail Marker at Branch Brook Park Skating Rink
Branch Brook Park Skating Rink
A Historic Home of Skate Culture and Musical Innovation
The Birthplace of Jersey Club
Black Heritage Trail Marker Approved
As of September 2025, Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center in Newark, New Jersey, is officially recognized on the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail, administered by the New Jersey Historical Commission. This designation honors the rink’s pivotal role in shaping Black artistic innovation, youth expression, and community resilience in Newark and beyond.
Created by legislation L.2022, c.102, the Trail commemorates sites that reflect Black New Jerseyans’ histories of labor, resistance, joy, and cultural legacy. With this marker, Newark’s profound contribution to American dance music and youth culture is permanently acknowledged.
Newark’s Cultural Landscape and Black Heritage
Newark’s history is deeply entwined with Black America’s struggle and creativity. Enslaved Africans were integral to New Jersey’s colonial economy, and centuries of racialized housing policies, segregation, and systemic disinvestment shaped much of the city’s modern landscape. The 1967 Newark Rebellion was both an uprising against injustice and a demand to protect and affirm Black life, dignity, and autonomy.
It is within this historical arc that Branch Brook Park Skating Rink emerges as a community stronghold—offering intergenerational recreation since the 1970s. Originally opened as an ice-skating venue, the rink evolved into a beloved neighborhood institution for roller skating, DJ battles, and dance showcases. During the late 1990s and early 2000s—amidst rising gang violence, the crack epidemic, and declining youth programming—the rink became a sanctuary where young people could gather, express themselves safely, and build cultural identity through movement and music.
Birthplace of Jersey Club Music (JCM)
Jersey Club Music (JCM) is a high-energy, 130–140 BPM genre known for chopped vocals, breakbeat loops, and triplet kick drums. But more than a sound, JCM is a movement—a grassroots cultural response to adversity, built from the floorboards of Branch Brook Park Skating Rink.
Throughout the early 2000s, the rink hosted dance battles, DJ sets, and skating showcases that gave rise to a new cultural economy. Pioneers like DJ Tameil, DJ Tim Dolla, and DJ Doughboy worked alongside dancers and skaters to form a rhythmic language rooted in the Black expressive arts. Collectives like the Brick Bandits and Illmatic Force turned the rink into a cultural lab, fusing electronic music with Newark’s street-level innovation.
The rink was also home to production troupes like EnVy, who fused choreography and club music in performances that helped globalize Jersey Club. According to EnVy’s co-founder Anthony “Solo” Harris, “We broke down doors and did things first for others to walk through.” (Dance Mogul Magazine)
Skating, Sound, and Digital Innovation
Jersey Club was birthed at the intersection of analog community spaces and emerging digital tools. Newark youth adopted programs like Acid Pro, Sony Acid, and FL Studio, as well as hardware like the Boss DR-770 and SP-202. These producers distributed their music via MySpace, LimeWire, peer-to-peer mixtapes, and YouTube, creating a feedback loop between in-person rink culture and online virality.
The result: a local genre that grew global. JCM now thrives in:
Billboard Charts: “Just Wanna Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert (produced by Newark’s MCVertt) charted nationally in 2022.
Pop Culture & Fashion: Artists like UNIIQU3—crowned the "Queen of Jersey Club"—have brought JCM to global fashion shows, documentaries, and Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour.
Gaming & Esports: High-energy Jersey Club tracks now feature in competitive gaming soundtracks and rhythm games.
Social Media: Viral dance routines across TikTok and Instagram are rooted in classic Jersey Club choreography.
Movement Vocabulary & Dance Influences
Jersey Club dance draws from a wide spectrum of African diasporic and Black American movement traditions, including:
Hip Hop: Breaking, popping, locking, and tutting
Vogue & House: Stylized footwork and poses
Skate Culture: Rhythmic improvisation and body control
African & Caribbean: Isolations, polyrhythmic footwork, and storytelling through dance
This blend creates a dynamic, communal form of expression where every stomp and drop speaks to survival, imagination, and joy.
Pioneers & Cultural Leaders
DJ Tameil: Mentor, archivist, and innovator who shaped Brick City Club and introduced countless producers to the genre.
DJ Tim Dolla: Co-founder of the Brick Bandits Collective, helping bring JCM into national visibility.
DJ Sick & DJ Fresh: 2nd-generation club DJs and educators, leading the Brick Bandits today and contributing to this historical marker’s application.
UNIIQU3: A globally known artist pushing JCM’s intersections with fashion, film, and feminist movement.
Unicorn 151: Liberian-American MC and cultural entrepreneur, founder of Illtown Philanthropic, and trailblazer in Jersey Club rap.
SLIINK: Global ambassador of Jersey Club, with collaborations including Skrillex, Wale, and high-profile international tours.
Jayhood: Major producer who helped bring JCM to broader audiences through collaborations with Missy Elliotand Sharaya J.
Nomination & Community Leadership
This Black Heritage Marker nomination was led by Urban Seeds Grow (USG), a Newark-based nonprofit advancing land justice, cultural preservation, and youth empowerment.
The application was supported by:
The Brickerati Group
DJ Tameil & DJ Sick (Brick Bandits Collective)
Unicorn 151 (Illtown Philanthropic)
It received broad endorsement from Essex County creatives, educators, and policymakers.
Plan Your Visit and Engage
Branch Brook Park Skating Rink remains an active site of recreation, skating culture, and music innovation. The surrounding park, known for its nation-leading cherry blossom display, continues to serve as a vital greenspace for Newarkers and visitors alike.
We invite:
Tourism professionals to partner on heritage and music-based itineraries
Educators and researchers to study Newark’s cultural innovations
Artists, DJs, and cultural workers to collaborate on programming
Urban planners and preservationists to support place-based storytelling
Come skate the legacy. Hear the rhythm. Be part of the movement.
Urban Seeds Grow in partnership with Illtown Philanthropies, The Brickerati Group, and The Brick Bandits Collective
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Jersey Club Education & Cultural Curriculum
Workshops and residencies in schools, recreation centers, and universities on DJing, beat-making, and choreography.
Curriculum development aligned with New Jersey’s arts and social studies standards, integrating local heritage into classroom learning.
Youth fellowships and training that connect music education with workforce pathways in audio production, event management, and digital storytelling.
Media
Partnerships with artists, educators, and producers—including pioneers of Jersey Club—to preserve and expand the genre’s cultural legacy.
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Jersey Club Heritage & Tourism Experiences
We curate cultural tours and heritage activations that immerse residents and visitors in Newark’s artistic and musical history. Each experience links key sites—past and present—where Black creativity and innovation have shaped American culture.
Our services include:
Heritage trail tours highlighting sites such as Branch Brook Park Skating Rink, the Robert Treat Hotel, and historic music venues.
Audio storytelling and guided tours featuring local artists and producers in collaboration with our partners at Illtown Philanthropics and The Brickerti Group
Cultural events and performances that celebrate Jersey Club’s evolution—from rink-floor battles to global pop influence.
Partnership development with tourism bureaus, universities, and arts councils to expand access to Newark’s cultural economy.
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Community Engagement & Cultural Preservation Initiatives
Urban Seeds Grow works at the intersection of art, urban planning, and social impact. Through creative placemaking, we engage communities in preserving, performing, and protecting their cultural assets.
Our services include:
Public forums and storytelling events centered on the history of dance, music, and youth expression in Essex County.
Collaborative mural and installation projects that interpret the Jersey Club legacy in visual form.
Civic and nonprofit partnerships to promote cultural equity, community safety, and intergenerational exchange.
Creative economy development, helping local entrepreneurs and artists translate culture into opportunity.