Jackson Free Press

NEW YORK (Feb. 28) - For nearly three decades, hip-hop relics such as vinyl records, turntables, microphones and boom boxes have collected dust in boxes and attics.On Tuesday, owners of such items - including pioneering hip-hop artists such as Afrika Bambaataa, DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and Fab 5 Freddy - will blow that dust off and carry them to a Manhattan hotel to turn them over to National Museum of American History officials.

The museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., is announcing its plans to embark on a collecting initiative, "Hip-Hop Won't Stop: the Beat, the Rhymes, the Life."
Museum officials have yet to raise the money, which will come from private donors. They will use the funds to pay for artifacts, record oral histories, hold consultations with advisory groups and mount an exhibit telling hip-hop's story.

Hip-hop culture, whose main elements include rappers, DJs and breakdancers, is considered one of the most powerful cultural explosions ever. Today, it's incorporated into marketing to sell everything from cars and clothing to food and furniture.
"It's American music," Perez, who staged an exhibition on Latin music singer Celia Cruz, said of rap. "It shows the creativity that exists in urban environments."

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Previous Comments

ID

105122

Comment

This story should make a lot of hiphop lovers happy. It is due recognition. Visit the link because it gives you some interesting timelines on events that have happened over the years concerning hiphop, good and bad.

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-03-03T11:03:40-06:00

ID

105123

Comment

WOW. Here's something for the history books: Three Six Mafia made history at the 78th Annual Academy Awards as the first rap group featured on the telecast. The Memphis based rap collective performed the song ‘It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp’ from the John Singleton-produced movie ‘Hustle & Flow.’ The track won the coveted trophy for ‘Best Original Music.’ http://blackvoices.aol.com/black_entertainment/featurecanvas?id=20060305231609990001

Author

c a webb

Date

2006-03-06T10:10:47-06:00

ID

105124

Comment

That's fabulous. I just recently watched that movie and was blown away.

Author

Lori G

Date

2006-03-06T10:26:00-06:00

ID

105125

Comment

I watched the Oscars last night and laughed out loud when Three Six Mafia won. I just kept picturing little old ladies screaming their heads off while those guys were on stage accepting their award. Tee hee.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2006-03-06T18:59:14-06:00