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Honoring 50 Years of Hip-Hop History
Over the past five decades, hip-hop’s artistry and innovation have transformed global culture and the ways we celebrate our lives, so we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the world’s most popular music genre in style with exclusive exhibitions and community-building events.
EXHIBITIONS
Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop
Through four decades of photography and 170 iconic images of its most influential artists (Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, Tupac, and more), Contact High examines hip-hop’s evolution, putting you face to face with the moments, inspirations, and personalities that made hip-hop happen.
My Mic Sounds Nice: Hip-Hop Feminism in History
Created by Associate Curator Adeerya Johnson, this pop-up exhibit provides a historical and nuanced portrayal of how Black women tell their stories, express their style, show off their lyrical skill, and name their artistry as founders of hip-hop music and culture.
Online Hip-Hop Collection Vault
We have gathered over 1,300 hip-hop artifacts including flyers, fashion, vinyl, oral histories, photographs, and handwritten lyrics into a one-of-a-kind digital archive freely accessible to hip-hop fans, students, creators, and scholars across the world. And that includes you.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
50 Years Friends of the Waterfront
Join MoPOP and Friends of Waterfront Seattle for Hip-Hop 50, a celebration of five decades of hip-hop highlighting Seattle’s contributions to the culture. Featuring B-boy and B-girl dance battles; a fashion show with performances by Kutt n Up; a legends cypher; and a music tribute featuring Vitamin D and Roc Phizzle. Saturday, August 12 from 12-8 PM. Free!