Free Events for All Ages
Join the Library all spring and summer long for events for all ages celebrating hip-hop’s influence in music, fashion, art, film, and beyond.
Coming up:
- 6/6, 11 AM | Mosholu Library | Boogie Down Playdate
- 6/10, 2 PM | Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library | Hip-Hop Through the Decades (Series)
- 6/16, 4 PM | Bronx Library Center | Tagging with Tats Cru
- 6/23, 3 PM | Morris Park Library | Hip-Hop Fashion Workshop
- 6/24, 4 PM | Woodstock Library | DJ Your Day
Hip-Hop Block Parties
On June 17, join Mott Haven Library in the Bronx and Stapleton Library in Staten Island for live music and special guests!
Recommended Reading
- 50 Books for 50 Years of Hip-Hop
Check out these recommended reads for all ages that explore the influence and impact of hip-hop, including memoirs by landmark artists, explorations of fashion, fiction inspired by hip-hop culture, and more.
- Iconic Hip-Hop Music Videos as Books
In honor of legendary moments in hip-hop music video history, we’ve paired some of the most iconic video looks with our specialty—books.
The Library for the Performing Arts is home to the entire collection of Vibe magazine print periodicals—a magazine started by Quincy Jones and David Salzman in 1993 that captured the golden age of hip-hop. It profiled rappers like Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and the Notorious B.I.G., and served as a record of the raw feelings and differences of opinion underpinning the East Coast vs. West Coast hip-hop battles of the late 90s. In this video, Julius Tanner, Senior Librarian, takes us through the world of 90s-era hip-hop as seen through the pages of Vibe, including not just music, but fashion, entertainment, and Black intellectuals.
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Dilla Time: Dan Charnas & Jason Moran
Watch NowJournalist Dan Charnas and musician and composer Jason Moran discuss the legacy of hip-hop producer J Dilla, one of the most important and influential musical figures of the past hundred years, at a past LIVE from NYPL event.
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Sweat the Technique: Rakim & Ralph McDaniels
Watch NowRakim, one of hip-hop’s most transformative artists, discusses his book, Sweat the Technique, with pioneering TV host and hip-hop historian Ralph McDaniels.
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The Emperor of Sound: Timbaland
Watch NowRenowned producer Timbaland, who has worked with artists from Mariah Carey to Missy Elliott to Madonna, discusses his memoir at a talk at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
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50 Years of Hip-Hop at the Library for the Performing Arts
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50 Years of Hip-Hop at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
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Get a Library Card
Learn MoreSign up for a library card for free online today! Access everything the Library has to offer, from free one-on-one online tutoring to e-books, with your library card.
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Get Started with SimplyE
Learn MoreDownload SimplyE, the Library's free e-reader app, which makes it easy to borrow e-books and audiobooks from a catalog of more than 300,000 titles.
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Download the NYPL App
Learn MoreGet the power of The New York Public Library, anytime, anywhere. With the NYPL app, you can access everything the Library has to offer from home or while you’re on the go.
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Connect with the Library
Sign UpGet the latest NYPL events, programs, and more delivered straight to your inbox.
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Try Shelf Help
Learn MoreDiscover the Library’s personalized book selection service! Tell us your reading interests and we’ll handpick five books just for you. Available for patrons of all ages!
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Join the Friends of the Library
Join TodayThe New York Public Library's free services and resources (like these!) are made possible thanks to the support of the Friends of the Library. Join this group of Library lovers today and take advantage of special membership benefits.
Thank You
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
