The Kennedy Center For Performing Arts recently announced their newly founded Hip Hop Culture Council. They've enlisted some hip hop pioneers and greats on board for it including Q-Tip, who's been announced as the new artistic director for the council. The Hip Hop Culture Council serves as a way to "help the Kennedy Center create new pathways and deepen public knowledge of hip-hop, contribute to broader Center-wide initiatives, and strengthen the burgeoning Hip-Hop Culture program at the Kennedy Center,” as Medium says. They've enlisted some greats and pioneers on board to push this initiative.
The Hip Hop Culture Council includes members of the hip hop community that have helped pioneer and push the culture forward. Aside form Q-Tip, other members include Questlove, Black Thought, 9th Wonder, Fab 5 Freddy, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Caz, Common, Kool Bob Love, Grant Hill, Large Professor, Pharoahe Monch, MC Lyte and more.
"The members are the embodiment of what we stand for and all that we aspire to achieve with the Hip Hop Culture program." Q-Tip said.
Together, they'll use their voices and ideas to help make hip hop more prominent at the Kennedy Center.
One of the first projects they have in store will kick off this spring. They'll be celebrating the 35th anniversary of Wild Style, hip hop's first motion picture. In addition, Fab 5 Freddy and Grandmaster Caz will also host a discussion afterwards.
Robert Glasper, Common and Karriem Riggins will also perform live for the first time as August Greene at Kennedy Center's Concert Hall On March 29th.
Watch Q-Tip's announcement below.