Busta Rhymes is going to bust a move in Harlem, and you can check out the concert for free.
Because all things ‘90s are back in demand (not that they ever left our hearts), we have Crystal Pepsi to thank. Yes, the redheaded stepchild of the beverage world that appeared in 1992 and was gone by 1993 is returning to stores, and its warm-up acts is the Crystal Pepsi Throwback Tour, described as a “multi-city tribute to the nostalgia of the ‘90s.”
Busta’s concert kicks off the series of three free shows nationwide on Aug. 1 in front of Yankee Stadium at Billy’s Sports Bar. Doors open at 4 p.m., and Busta will play a one-hour set from 6-7 p.m. — though early birds will get the retro swag, courtesy of Pepsi.
Other cities get Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath (in Phoenix on Aug. 11) and Salt-N-Pepa (in Miami on Aug. 13), and while they are free, the concerts are ticketed — and you have to be lucky enough to win them. In New York, listen to iHeartRadio’s WHTZ (100.3), WKTU (103.5) and WWPR (105.1) for chances to win.
All these retro tunes lead up to the first nationwide re-release of Crystal Pepsi, which will reappear “for one last limited time” on store shelves beginning Aug. 14.
We get the nostalgia angle, but you don’t need to reminisce to relive the glory days of Busta, who’s still spitting rhymes — including the expected release of his ninth studio album later this year — and contributed his take on “My Shot” to “The Hamilton Mixtape” of cover songs from the musical.
Crystal Pepsi, however, hasn’t enjoyed the same longevity. Its one-year lease on life began when “clear” was associated with purity and health, and it was far from the only product to try this tactic. Whether it was the lack of caffeine or the natural lifespan of a fad, Crystal Pepsi burned bright and disappeared just as quickly.
It’s more than a little ironic that in the era of rainbow and unicorn food, a colorless drink is the hot new thing. Maybe for that reason alone, we should Be Sociable, Have a Pepsi.
