Funk Flex has been spinning hip-hop and R&B across NYC’s airwaves for the better part of four decades, becoming a hip-hop institution. His R&B picnic in Central Park celebrates his birthday and this year he is bringing some R&B heavy-hitters for a not-to-be-missed throwback show. They include Jon B, a platinum-selling R&B artist discovered by Babyface whose first three LPs climbed the Billboard 200 album chart and whose collaboration with 2Pac, ”Are U Still Down,” was among the late rapper’s final recordings; Fonda Rae, an American R&B singer best known for her club hits like “Over Like a Fat Rat” and “Touch Me”; Taana Gardner, who saw early success in disco with West End Records in the late ‘70s-early ‘80s, and whose 1981 single “Heartbeat” was famously remixed by Larry Levan into a staple at the Paradise Garage; Strafe, aka Brooklyn native and producer Steve Standard, who is best known for the 1984 single “Set It Off,” which has been extensively sampled in hip-hop, house, and techno circles; and Dres, best known as one half of the duo Black Sheep, the Native Tongues group whose debut LP A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing remains a foundation of New York City’s early ‘90s boom-bap era. Joining Flex on the ones and twos spinning records between sets is his fellow Hot97 DJ M U.