The New York Public Library Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has partnered with TIDAL to produce three definitive playlists of hip-hop classics inspired by the VIBE magazine archive preserved at the Library. VIBE has been an authoritative voice on hip-hop culture since the magazine was founded by Quincy Jones and David Salzman in 1993.

A special event at the heart of NYPL’s 50 years of hip-hop celebrations, The Rap Up brought together key players in hip-hop culture across film, fashion, dance, and education. Watch recordings of the event to hear from Wild Style director Charlie Ahearn and Fab 5 Freddy, award-winning hip-hop artist Mickey Factz, fashion icons 5001 Flavors and April Walker, street dance stars Break Easy and TweetBoogie, and others.

The Schomburg Center’s research collections hold original photographs, artwork, archives, and more documenting the early days of hip-hop and the cultural forces that produced it. Explore the collections—plus, see more from the Wild Style cassette book that inspired our new, special-edition library card.

Staff from The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts’ Music and Recorded Sound Division have curated It’s Yours!, a display of materials from the Division’s archives that mark the milestones and impact of hip-hop. Explore classic albums, photographs, videos, vintage hip-hop artist trading cards, and more.

The New York Public Library's Picture Collection provided imagery for new murals created by students from City-As-School, facilitated by the Children's Museum of the Arts. The murals echo the musical tradition of sampling through the visual tradition of collage. 

Journalist 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.

Rakim, one of hip-hop’s most transformative artists, discusses his book, Sweat the Technique, with pioneering TV host and hip-hop historian Ralph McDaniels.

Renowned 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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The Schomburg Shop has books on hip-hop music and culture, along with books and unique gifts related to the global Black experience. Explore everything the Shop has to offer. Every purchase supports the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

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