How long does it take for a music genre to get its own museum? About 40 years, apparently. It's been a long time coming, but the Hip Hop Hall Of Fame will finally open its doors to the public in the year 2017. Located in Harlem and midtown, the site will house various items from hip-hop history including posters, equipment, and wardrobe donated by artists like Salt-N-Pepa, Run-DMC, Young Jeezy and Common.
Former producer of BET's "Hip-Hop Hall of Fame Awards Show," JT Thompson, will serve as the organizer of the museum's entertainment committee. “People need to understand the importance of hip hop, the elements, the DJs, the B-boys and B-girls and the graffiti writers,” he said in a press release.
The project itself will cost just about $80 million; $50 million of which was raised through crowd sourcing.
Kenny Snyder, co-chair of the museum's entertainment committee alongside Thompson, expressed hope that the venue will show a positive side to a genre clouted in negativity. “Hip hop got a bad rep,” he said. “With this museum, it’s important to sit on the other side of it.”
Stay tuned to HNHH for another three years as we continue to cover this monument's roll out.
[via NY Daily News]