Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post via Getty Images
The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts has a new initiative – a Hip Hop Council, and they’ve chosen Q-Tip to be the artistic director and advisor-at-large! The emcee is a member of A Tribe Called Quest, which was arguably one of the most influential and artistic Hip Hop groups of the 90s. They perfected jazz-rap with their hit songs Bonita Applebum and Jazz.
“The Kennedy Center’s Hip Hop Culture Council reflects the creative, social, and intellectual wealth of the Hip Hop community,” the legendary rapper said in a video introducing the new program. “The members are the embodiment of what we stand for and all that we aspire to achieve with the Hip Hop Culture program.”
Check out the full video below!
The council was formed to “help the Kennedy Center create new pathways and deepen public knowledge of Hip Hop.” Founding members of the council who are all Hip Hop legends include Questlove, Common, 9th Wonder, and LL Cool J, who was just honored a few months ago as the first rapper to receive a Kennedy Center Honor. The Mama Said Knock You Out rapper is already making an impact at the center!
The council is holding an event today to celebrate Hip Hop’s first motion picture, Wild Style, with a 35th anniversary film screening and discussion featuring council members Fab 5 Freddie and Grandmaster Caz. According to their website, Simone Eccleston, the director of Hip Hop Culture and Contemporary Music says that Q-Tip will be creating a brain trust (group of advisors) to advance and expand the council’s work!
TELL US: Do you think this initiative will help the public better understand Hip Hop?
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