Hip Hop Artifacts Go on Display in Cleveland
| Hip Hop Artifacts Go on Display in Cleveland |
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| Written by Robert ID4435 |
| Monday, 14 July 2008 11:17 |
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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, a nonprofit organization in Cleveland, Ohio is displaying hip hop artifacts from the beginning era of the wide spread and widely accepted hip hop culture. Not since the early days of rock and roll has an African-American-driven cultural phenomenon taken such a strong hold of mainstream American society as hip hop. In its more than 30-year existence, hip hop has transformed itself at least as much as it has transformed the culture at large. Whether hip hop primarily reflects the culture from which some of it arises – the violence, despair, the sexism – or gives vent to the frustrations of that culture, remains a question. What is clear is that its main concerns, from simple human relationships to the burning social questions of the day, echo those of early rock and roll. HIP HOP JUST PUMPED UP THE VOLUME! Some of the Hip hop artifacts viewable now at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland include: Assorted Hip hop Flyers c.1977 – 1985 Includes flyers from Saul Abbatiello, Afrika Bambaataa, Phase Too, Grandmaster Flash, Lovebug Starski and DJ Kool Herc. Slick Rick Hat & Eye Patch c.1985 Slick Rick’s eye patch was not an affectation, as he was blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant. Run D.M.C. Tennis Shoes & Sunglass Frames c.1985 Grandmaster Flash Mixer & Cap c.1988 **Flashformer Mixer by Gemini** Cap by Kangol Ice-T Body Count T-Shirt c.1998 Release of Contract from Sire Records, November 12, 1992 After much public pressure, Sire Records asked Ice-T to pull the track “Cop Killer” from his 1992 Body Count album, claiming the track advocated violence against police. Ice-T refused, feeling the request compromised his artistic integrity. This letter released the artist from his recording contract. “Radio Suckers” lyric manuscript 1988 Rolling Stone magazine August 20, 1992 Concert Poster August 28, 1991 (Emunclaw, Washington) N.W.A. Letter from the F.B.I. to Priority Records August 1, 1989 Baseball Cap c.1990 2 Live Crew “Banned In The U.S.A.” 45 rpm single, vinyl 1990 Public Enemy Original Artwork c.1989 Tour Program Sketches c.1989 From It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back album Spin Magazine October 1992 **Flavor Flav of Public Enemy Clock c.1988** “Fight the Power” lyric manuscript L.L. Cool J Leather Jacket 1995 Design by Vanson Leathers Pepa of Salt-n-Pepa Jacket 1988 Design by Mary’s Fashion Snoop Dogg The Source Magazine April 1998 T-Shirt and Sneakers c.2000 “Money” lyric manuscript c.1998 This lyric segment is from an unreleased rap by Snoop Dogg Jay-Z Hockey Jersey and Sneakers c.1999 Notorious B.I.G. **Leather Jersey c.1995** 45 rpm Records c.1995 These singles were from Biggie Smalls’ personal collection. He used these and many other records as backing tracks and samples for his early live performances and recordings. Andre 3000 Sweater and Sneakers 2003 Mike D. Gloves and Goggles 1999 Wyclef Jean Harmonicas c.1996 Lauryn Hill Leather Jacket by levi stauss 1998 Queen Latifah **Stage outfit 1989** Queen Latifah photo c.1989 House of Pain Ring and Pin c.1992 De La Soul Necklace 1989 Prince Paul Notebook 1988 As the producer for De La Soul, Prince Paul wrote production notes in this notebook during the recording of their debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising. “Rapture” lyric manuscript Written by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein Performed by Blondie Released on the album Autoamerican 1981 “Rapture” was released in January 1981. It became one of the first substantial hits to reference hip hop, and it was the first rap-influenced single to reach Number One on the Billboard chart. The lyric references Fab 5 Freddy. The “Rapture” video, in which Freddy has a brief cameo, was the first hip hop video to be shown on MTV. |
