Hip-hop legends Eric B and Rakim rock Stone Pony, Gov. Murphy, at North to Shore show

Hip-hop legends Eric B and Rakim were in the house — and so was Gov. Phil Murphy.

Murphy introduced Eric B and Rakim Tuesday, June 13, for their North to Shore Festival show at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Murphy is obviously a fan, judging by the references he dropped during the intro.

"You think about 'Eric B is President.' You think about 'Paid in Full.' You think about the four iconic albums and they reunited in 2016," Murphy said. "These guys are dear friends of mine. They're extraordinary. Eric B is one of the great deejays of all time. Rakim, the 'God Flow' himself."

Murphy, who previously introduced the duo at the Apollo Theatre before he became governor, stuck around for most of the show, which celebrated 50 years of hip-hop.

"The Gov is real, he introduced Eric B and Rakim,' " said opener Peter Gunz of Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz fame. "I'm moving to New Jersey!"

Eric B and Rakim had the packed crowd rocking and rapping along from the opening bars of "Don't Sweat the Technique" to set closer "Paid in Full." Eric B's beats were trailblazers, and they still sound as fresh and vibrant today as they did 30 years ago.

Rakim's baritone rap voice is still backboard shaking. Unlike most hip-hip acts today, he didn't use a backing track.

More: Turf Club, Asbury Park West Side music legacy in the spotlight at North to Shore Festival

"Awesome!" said Danielle Weston of Asbury Park after the show. "This is my first time I've seen them in concert but I've always loved them since I was a little girl. I know the songs frontwards to backwards."

Rising city star Alexander Simone and Whodat? were first up, and they brought out upcoming Asbury Park hip-hop performers Chill Smith, King Ramses and 10-year old Ryver Bey.

"I've done a lot of shows but this one was different, this one was one for the books," Simone said. "It's 50 years of hip-hop and it really felt like a celebration getting to perform with the gods, Eric B and Rakim. That's the real essence and the real culture of hip-hop."

Murphy said he had heard of Bey and chatted with her backstage, said mom Emma Smith.

"He was excited to meet her and she was excited to meet him, too," Smith said. "He said he was proud. She said 'I'm 10 and I'm from Asbury Park and I'm just trying to bring light to my city on the other side.' He said, 'I'm so proud of you. A lot of people are saying good things about you.' "

More: Celebrate Juneteenth with food, music and fun at these Jersey Shore spots

Some of Bey's independently released singles, including "Like Me" and "Lesson Plan (Get the Bag)," have generated hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube.

"You don't understand 50 years of hip-hop, it took something to get here," said Rakim from the stage. "(Bey's) the next train who's going to take the next load of people to hip-hop's future.

"Do it from your heart always, you know what I mean? Peace and love to the little queen."

Visit northtoshore.com for more information on the North to Shore Festival.

Subscribe to app.com for the latest on the New Jersey music scene.

Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Gov. Phil Murphy introduces Eric B and Rakim at Stone Pony