A wide-angle concert photograph showing hip-hop artist Dynasty performing live on stage during a concert at Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida, on July 31, 2026. Captured in a full-length shot from the left side of the stage, Dynasty stands centered under warm stage lights holding a microphone to her mouth, wearing a white crop top, silver hoop earrings, and wide-leg light blue denim cargo pants. To the left, DJ Sandman, widely considered the godfather of Tampa hip-hop, operates mixing equipment and a laptop behind a elevated table setup, while a crowded audience stands in front of the stage with hands raised in the background under the dark, exposed-beam venue ceiling.Dynasty plays Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on July 31, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Last week, Crowbar co-founder and co-owner Tom DeGeorge said the last few shows at his now-shuttered venue were as close as someone could get to experiencing death.

“They say they see the bright light, and all of a sudden they’re surrounded by everyone they’ve ever loved. That’s literally how I felt,” DeGeorge told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay last Monday.

Four days later, it was an entire community’s turn to see the light when friends from two decades of concerts converged at 1812 N 17th St. for what ended up being a joyous reunion—and reminder that the scene must go on. 

Talib Kweli was the last performer to hit the Crowbar stage in the bleary moments of early Saturday morning, and he sent the place off in style, bringing out Havoc from Mobb Deep and running through a litany of hits. In a post last weekend, the 50-year-old legend of hip-hop called Tampa’s energy “magnetic and electric.”

“The hiphop community there is powerful. They call out the nonsense too! Thank you for the solidarity and thank you James Sandman,” he added. Sandman is widely known as Tampa’s Godfather of hip-hop. The Illsboro Records boss‘ relationship with DeGeorge goes back to the early-2000s when the tampahiphop.com message board and shows inside DeGeorge’s Masquerade Infinity Room were rites of passage for any self-respecting local rap head. Last Friday, Sandman, who’s been putting on rappers whether they’re Wu-Tang or the kid who makes sandwiches in the daytime, opened the night by welcoming a stacked roster of acts who helped shape Crowbar over the last two decades. Perception brought out a live band, and so did Queen of Ex who showcased a power and prowess unmatched in the local scene. Even Dynasty, a Tampa expat now based in L.A., returned with her impeccable, inimitable technique and aura.

Before Sandman played The Beatles “Let It Be” and Gary Portnoy’s “Cheers” theme song to end the night, DeGeorge announced plans to look for a new venue to own outright. 

Until then, as Dynasty reminded the crowd, it’s important to keep pushing.

All photos by Dave Decker for Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

A wide-angle concert photograph showing hip-hop artist Dynasty performing live on stage during a concert at Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida, on July 31, 2026. Captured in a full-length shot from the left side of the stage, Dynasty stands centered under warm stage lights holding a microphone to her mouth, wearing a white crop top, silver hoop earrings, and wide-leg light blue denim cargo pants. To the left, DJ Sandman, widely considered the godfather of Tampa hip-hop, operates mixing equipment and a laptop behind a elevated table setup, while a crowded audience stands in front of the stage with hands raised in the background under the dark, exposed-beam venue ceiling.Dynasty plays Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on July 31, 2026. Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

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This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 05, 2026.

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