<p>Hip hop was in an Empire State of Mind last night in Times Square, and Jay-Z was nowhere around.</p><p>The “I Love New York Hip Hop Concert” set out to be, in essence, a rap pep rally for the United Boroughs of Hip Hop America, each area beaten back by years of audience oversight and industry neglect, but still able to send forth some of rap’s brightest talent to defend the honor of the former regional rap superpower. Wielding lyrical firepower, the strength of a few hit records and the spirit of those who came before them to guide them, New York rap lieutenants Red Café, Maino and Juelz Santana valiantly tried to prove that Big Apple hip hop is indeed alive and well.</p>
