Miami is known for many things: its glitz and glamour, high seas and high style, cafecitos and cubanos, but if you look just a little bit closer you’ll see a real city, with real problems. That does not mean we have to stop the party, we just have to shift its theme. That is exactly what Miami Heat’s notorious DJ IRIE has accomplished.
The IRIE Weekend is a multi-day long event that seeks to raise funds for the IRIE Foundation, an organization founded by IRIE to provide support to Miami’s at-risk youth. This is done through mentorship programs, cultural immersion, and educational initiatives, closely following the children throughout their academic career.
This year’s 13th Annual IRIE Weekend ran from June 29th to July 2nd, adding an extra day to the action packed charity event. Starting at the pristine fields of the Miami Beach Golf Club, LGPA legend Paula Pearson Tucker gave kids valuable lessons at the #InspIRIE kids golf clinic, with a surprise appearance from actor Anthony Mackie. Later that day, DJ IRIE hosted the #InspIRIE Dinner Gala held at the beautiful Eden Roc Miami Beach. The star-studded event culminated in a surprise appearance by Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine who awarded IRIE with a key to the city. The festive night continued with a live auction and performance by Nelly. And that was only the beginning.
Friday also began at the courses, as DJ IRIE’s Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament took place in Miami Beach. Stars such as Alonzo Mourning, Sterling Shepard, Shemar Moore and others came out to support the event. “Irie has created this festive atmosphere throughout the weekend, every party is a fun time […] I’m proud of IRIE and what he’s done, what he’s created,” said Mourning. After a long day on the green, guests headed to LIV nightclub for a special performance by rapper Lil Yachty.
With Fourth of July just around the corner, the event kept its momentum on Saturday as the IRIE Weekend Sea B-Q Pool Party took place at the Eden Roc with performances by T.I, OT Genasis and Nelly. The weekend is surely not for the faint hearted as guests were later invited to head out to E11EVEN, where a live performance by Future blew everyone away.
The weekend’s last day was for the boys, as IRIE hosted a birthday brunch at the River Yacht Club in honor of good friend Kevin Hart. The festivities did not end there, as a huge birthday bash took place later that night at LIV with a live performance by superstar Lil Wayne, appropriately bringing the sun-filled 13th Annual IRIE Weekend to a perfect end.
As one of Miami’s liveliest weekends, it is easy to forget the motivation behind it. “The Magic City is just that—the magic city; it’s an incredible place, there’s a reason why I call it home and why I’ll always call it home, but it’s not perfect,” said IRIE. “Like any other city, we have our issues.”
