Witness How Hip-Hop Changed the World
2023 marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and we’re celebrating the art and culture of the world’s most popular music genre in style.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or eager novice, we’ve got everything you need to level up your hip-hop knowledge, appreciation, and enjoyment with:
• Contact High, our wildly popular gallery of hip-hop photography featuring all your favorite icons up close. Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Aaliyah, Wu-Tang Clan, Sir Mix-A-Lot, they’re all here—the pictures you remember and the ones you’ve definitely never seen.
• My Mic Sounds Nice, Associate Curator Adeerya Johnson’s exhibit spotlighting the women at the heart of hip-hop’s success. This pop-up provides a historical and nuanced portrayal of how Black women tell their stories, express their style, show off their lyrical skill, and name their artistry as key founders of hip-hop music and culture.
• Our new Online Hip-Hop Collection Vault, putting over 1,300 hip-hop artifacts exploring hip-hop music, fashion, politics, and dance right at your fingertips, right now, for free. Try it out with your favorite artist!
Over the past five decades, hip-hop’s artistry and innovation have transformed global music and pop culture again and again and again. So get excited and get ready, because the next 50 years starts now.