Beat Street (and the Fulton Street outdoor mall that its on) seem(s) like the center of the hip hop universe. Music is downstairs and you'll have to head to the back to comb through the rows and rows of hip hop 12-inchers that line the walls and pack the racks. Huge and cool...you'll find all kinds of hip hop-related stuff here, from DJ Gear, LPs, and CDs to movies, magazines, and t-shirts.
When you're done exploring get a slice, a dog, and an italian ice at the Fulton Hot Dog King down the block. Then check out the incredible selection of gear and sneakers up and down the mall. You'll find cool cheap shirts at the Conway store.
You'll need to make a bit of an effort to get to Beat Street and the mall. If you're coming from Manhattan you take the "Brooklyn Bound" (the other direction heads toward, and ends at, 8th Avenue...still in Manhattan) L train from anywhere along 14th Street in Manhattan. On the subway map the L train route is colored gray. You'll probably want to catch it at Union Square (by the Virgin MegaStore) or 6th Avenue. You'll get off at "Metropolitan Avenue," which will be the fourth or fifth stop. Here you'll need to transfer to the "Smith-9th Streets" bound G train (its lime green on the subway map). *Be sure you don't get on the "Queens" bound G train.* Get off at the "Fulton Street" stop and when you emerge Beat Street is on Fulton, in the direction of that liquor store you'll see down the way. You can also just ask somebody.
If you started your Brooklyn excursion at Bedford Street/Williamsburg you'll need to get back on the "Brooklyn bound" L train and follow the procedure I mentioned above.
From Greenpoint (Russ Pizza/Eat Records) you'll need to get on the G train at Norman or Nassau, right off Manhattan Avenue, get on the "Smith-9th Streets" bound G train and follow the directions above.
Address
494 Fulton Street
Location
Between Hoyt and Ein(?) Streets
Hours
11 a.m.-7 p.m. every day
Telephone
718-624-6400
Email
manager@beatstreet.com
Web
