Hip Hop Smithsonian

The National Museum of American History introduced the artifact gathering initiative during the event in February in New York City, which was attended by notable figures such music mogul Ice-T, producer Russell Simmons, break dancer Crazy Legs, and hip-hop pioneer Africa Bambaataa. With that being said, this occasion is where early members of all hip-hop communities have come to present mementos during a particular ceremony. A multi-year initiative at the museum will compare where it started in the 1970s to where it is now. A more recent study found that more than 24 million Americans, ages 15 to 29, were customers worth $500 billion just one year ago and were familiar with hip hop culture.

The photos ranged anywhere from casual to fancy because it captured artists at all aspects of their lives. The hip hop era changed through those two decades in clothes, parties, and the amount of socializing they did. Back in the early days, the artists were connected with one another and had a sense of community within each other. The helped each other rise and be successful in the industry, as well as came together to at social events. The Hip Hop Smithsonian was a way for the community to understand the history hip hop as well as see how the dynamic has transitioned over time.

• "Eyejammie Hip-Hop Photo Collection Acquired by National Museum of African American History and Culture" Smithsonian. News desk.edu. 16 September 2015. Web.
• Gonzales, David. "Photographing Hip Hop's Golden Era." The New York Times. nighttime.com. 23 February 2016. Web.
• "Hip Hop." Encyclopedia of American Studies. eas-ref.press.jhu.edu. 17 November 2016. Web.
• Nodijimbadem, Katie. "Vintage Photos Recall the Early Days of Hip-Hop Before it Became a Billion-Dollar Industry." The National Museum of African American History and Culture. smithsonianmag.com. 11 April 2016. Web.
• “Hip-Hop Exhibit at Smithsonian.” Jet, vol. 109, no. 11, Mar. 2006, pp. 51–51. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ulh&AN=20062528&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
• Hira, Nadira A. “Is Hip-Hop Already History?” Smithsonian, vol. 37, no. 2, May 2006, pp. 31–32.