For the final 10 years, the Christmas spirit of Nickerson Gardens has been delivered by hip-hop and Top Dawg Entertainment.

This week, the taste-making L.A. hip-hop label celebrated a decade of dropping enjoyable and festivities on the Watts housing undertaking with its annual TDE Christmas live performance, that includes performances by SZA, Schoolboy Q and different star expertise on the label.

The occasion, held Tuesday and Wednesday, was hosted and headlined by rapper Jay Rock, a local of Nickerson Gardens who can be the longest-tenured TDE artist.

Highlights from the stage included R&B songstress SZA and rappers Schoolboy Q, Sir, Zacari and particular visitor 310Babii. At the top of the present, Jay Rock was joined by Compton rap star YG.

The second day of the occasion was centered on the passing out of presents for the children locally in addition to offering sources , together with a job honest and free haircuts.

Below are some photographs of the vacation block occasion and some phrases from native residents, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) and the TDE crew.

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1. SZA performs at Top Dawg Entertainment’s annual toy drive and live performance on the Nickerson Gardens housing initiatives on Tuesday in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 2. Jay Rock performs at Top Dawg Entertainment’s toy drive and live performance in Nickerson Gardens Tuesday in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 3. Ab-Soul performs at Top Dawg Entertainment’s annual toy drive and live performance on the Nickerson Gardens housing initiatives Tuesday in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Anthony Tiffith, (a.okay.a. Top Dawg) chief government and founding father of Top Dawg Entertainment

This is our tenth yr at it, and we had a number of the largest names in leisure right here. Being in a position to deliver occasions like this to the neighborhood the place I used to be raised means the world of me. I grew up not having the ability to have entry to artists. All the entertainers dream about sooner or later having the ability to give again. Events like this are inspirational and provides the neighborhood hope. I simply need them to know there’s a manner out. You simply gotta work arduous, keep devoted to what you’re doing and it might occur.

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1. Residents of the Nickerson Gardens housing undertaking collect for Top Dawg Entertainment’s annual toy drive and live performance Tuesday in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 2. A bit lady is worked up to place a brand new toy in her bag at Top Dawg Entertainment’s annual occasion on the Nickerson Gardens housing undertaking Wednesday in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 3. People drop off donations as they enter Top Dawg Entertainment’s annual toy drive and live performance Tuesday in Los Angeles.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters

I’m in Washington, D.C., and I’m not afraid to struggle for Watts. I had Watts a very long time in the past they usually took it away from me, however I obtained it again. Now, I’m again in Watts, and the very first thing I’m going to do is put air-con in all of Nickerson Gardens. We’re going to make the federal government do what it’s purported to do. And when these proper wings get in my manner, I’m going to inform them get the f— out of my manner.

Tiny B (rapper)
I like my neighborhood. I’ve lived in Nickerson Gardens all my life. We are an excellent neighborhood. We have greatness over right here. Everybody desires to look down on us, however we’re nice over right here and we love everyone. Just include some good vibes and we’re going to indicate you good vibes.

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1. Ray Vaughn addresses the gang at Top Dawg Entertainment’s annual toy drive and live performance on the Nickerson Gardens housing undertaking Tuesday in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 2. Los Angeles, CA – December 19: SCHOOLBOY Q performs at Top Dawg Entertainment’s (TDE) tenth annual toy drive and live performance that includes SZA, Jay Rock, YG and different TDE artists within the Nickerson Gardens housing initiatives on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times) 3. Tiny B. and his godson Ckaelyn Wells, 7, watch for Top Dawg Entertainment’s annual toy drive and live performance to begin Tuesday on the Nickerson Gardens housing undertaking in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Janie Jones (Nickerson Gardens resident)
I’ve been residing in these initiatives since I used to be 6 or 7.
This occasion means quite a bit for our neighborhood. There are younger children that don’t have something. Top Dawg offers again to the neighborhood yearly and it means quite a bit. Lots of people don’t have jobs proper now they usually have been laid off. The children get pleasure from free festivities and occasions like this that deliver the neighborhood collectively. We all come from the battle. Rap music comes from the battle. It has a unique which means if you happen to’re struggling and you already know the place that music comes from. My hope for my neighborhood is that we cease killing one another. That we come collectively and love each other. Be blissful, love extra and hate much less.

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1. Janie Jones, who has lived at Nickerson Gardens since she was 6, pauses earlier than Top Dawg Entertainment’s annual occasion Tuesday in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 2. Eboni Childress, middle, who’s lived at Nickerson Gardens for 10 years, and her household await the beginning Tuesday of Top Dawg Entertainment’s annual toy drive and live performance. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times) 3. Children get pleasure from a festive day at Nickerson Gardens as they watch for Top Dawg Entertainment’s occasion to start Tuesday in Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

David Hollywood Harrell, manger at Top Dawg Entertainment
I’m nonetheless part of this neighborhood born and raised and I like it. My mothers struggled and my pops was just about barely making it, but when we had one thing like this rising up over right here in Nickerson , it could’ve been phenomenal. Top got here to me nearly 10 years in the past with this concept, and the plan he had and the mission he’s achieved and nonetheless engaging in as much as today. Top isn’t giving again simply across the holidays; all through the yr he’s making it occur, from paying individuals to go to school, paying tuition, paying lease. My little brothers handed away from a drug overdose some years in the past. I used to be in a monetary state of affairs the place I couldn’t do it. Top requested me to get the whole and gave me a verify. Top buried my brother for my household. And he advised me, don’t do it a budget manner, do it the way in which as if you happen to guys had it. And made it occur. So I’ll perpetually be in debt with him due to that state of affairs. Top has given me a possibility to be part of a label he had envisioned nearly 20 years in the past.