U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and rapper KRS-One are reflecting on their efforts to protect the birthplace of hip-hop because the artwork kind celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.
“Hip-hop tradition has transcended language, race, and age,” the Senate majority chief mentioned in an unique assertion obtained by theGrio, “along with geographic and socioeconomic boundaries.”
The Brooklyn native mentioned, “It’s a uniquely American artwork kind that has develop into a worldwide cultural motion.”
“As a proud New Yorker, I used to be honored to have the ability to work with hip-hop giants and advocates like KRS-One and DJ Kool Herc, to make sure the birthplace, 1520 Sedgwick Ave, was preserved and celebrated,” mentioned Schumer.
In an unique assertion obtained by theGrio, KRS-One mirrored on hip-hop’s origin at a neighborhood room at 1520 Sedgwick.
“Its message and themes have traveled all around the world, connecting a whole lot of thousands and thousands of individuals,” mentioned the Boogie Down Productions member.
On Aug. 11, 1973, Clive Campbell, often known as DJ Kool Herc, and his sister Cindy Campbell hosted the long-lasting “Again to Faculty Jam” on the neighborhood room, as reported by Advanced.
The occasion ignited a motion that gave DJs, emcees and hip-hop artists the area to showcase their abilities.
This 12 months, KRS-One launched an initiative to host a number of neighborhood occasions main as much as the fiftieth anniversary of the “Again to Faculty Jam” to intention a highlight on part of hip-hop’s storied historical past.
Reflecting on the Bronx house constructing the place the cultural style obtained its begin, the hip-hop legend mentioned, “Internationally, cultural phenoms birthplaces are recurrently preserved and celebrated.”
He acknowledged that with regards to Black tradition and historical past in america, a lot of it “has not been as properly preserved, typically attributable to lack of recognition or cash – typically each.”
KRS-One mentioned Senator Schumer “understood the significance of hip-hop and its rightful place in our nationwide tradition when he prolonged max effort to verify this constructing wasn’t misplaced.”
In 2021, Schumer and U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., offered a congressional decision that declared 1520 Sedgwick the birthplace of hip-hop. The decision additionally deemed Aug. 11 as “Hip-Hop Celebration Day,” all the month of August as “Hip-Hop Recognition Month,” and November as “Hip-Hop Historical past Month.”
In Might, Bowman additionally re-introduced the Restoring Creative Safety Act, also referred to as the Rap Act, with Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., to forestall prosecutors from unlawfully utilizing rap lyrics in opposition to artists to convict them of against the law.
Bowman instructed theGrio that hip-hop is “important to protect and to have a good time” and “[it] wants its personal Corridor of Fame and Library of Congress.”
The congressman, whose district covers most of North Bronx, mentioned hip-hop tradition raised and impressed him as a younger Black man residing in New York Metropolis.
“It gave me data of self. It taught me politics and a lot of what my work in Congress now could be rooted in,” mentioned Bowman.
KRS-One mentioned he’s grateful that Schumer, Bowman and different congressional members stepped as much as assist protect hip-hop and its birthplace.
“The Neighborhood Room is now protected for future generations to understand. Many consider the room as a ‘sacred area,’” he mentioned. “Simply the act of preserving the room serves as a reminder to all that additionally they have the flexibility to attain their full potential.”
On Aug. 11, KRS-One will lead a reside celebration to honor the birthplace of hip-hop. He mentioned the reside feed will function performances from a “big selection” of artists who’ve “developed and moved the tradition ahead” over the previous 50 years. These will embody dancers, painters, DJs, poets and rappers.
“It’s the birthday hip-hop deserves,” he mentioned, “Its spirit is bigger and stronger now than ever earlier than.
The rapper added, “We sit up for sharing it’s going to all of you in just some weeks.”
TheGrio is FREE in your TV by way of Apple TV, Amazon Hearth, Roku, and Android TV. Please obtain theGrio cellular apps as we speak!
