Hip-Hop and Rock music have had a strange but harmonious relationship since the 80’s when Run-DMC introduced their Adidas to Steven Tyler’s hanging scarves in the classic “Walk This Way.”
Twenty years later, the powers that be at the famous museum are paying homage hip-hop’s ability to transcend race and color boundaries by presenting the new exhibit to the public.
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – 2007
It seems Grandmaster Flash and his old school crew (all respect due) opened the door for this new exhibit. Following much controversy, the innovative group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Jay-Z in March 2007. They were the first hip-hop act to be honored.
After working with Curtis Blow and Loveburg Starski, being the first DJ to catch scratching on record, Melle Mel being the first rapper to ever win a Grammy for Chaka Khan’s “I Feel For You,” and being presented with numerous awards including BET’s “I Am Hip Hop” Icon award; hip-hop heads all over wondered why their contributing to music in general wasn’t being acknowledged.
The Hip Hop Exhibit
The museam’s hip-hop exhibit is ripe with memorabilia and relics from the genre’s infancy. The exhibit showcases concert fliers from Saul Abbetiello, Afrika Bambaataa, and Phase Too, in addition to Slick Rick’s infamous eye patch and Grandmaster Flash’s Kangol hat.
In addition to it’s collection of memorabilia from hip-hop’s past, the exhibit also feature’s items from its later periods. A 1998 lyric manuscript for “Money,” an unreleased song for West Coast MC Snoop Dogg, and items from ATL’s Andre 3000 and Sean “Diddy” Combs are also featured in the exhibit.
Best Female Rappers of All Time
Most notably, the museum doesn’t forget women’s contribution to the groundbreaking genre of music. They also made sure to include items from:
- Lauryn Hill
- Queen Latifah
- Pepa of Salt –n- Pepa.
Hip-Hop: 30 Years in The Game
No one though it would last. For the past 30 years, most mainstream audiences have brushed hip-hop to the side as a passing fad. In recent years, the genre has boomed (with help from questionable corporate interests) and become the biggest and best thing since the George Forman Grill.
So now that Johnny and Becky are listening and suburban grandmothers are Youtubing it up doing the Soulja Boy, hip-hop’s impact and validity are as blatant as 808 bass.
Hip-Hop, Welcome to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!
