Has it really been 50 years since hip-hop hit the scene? Rock Hall curated a special exhibit ‘Holla if Ya Hear Me’ to honor the legends who created and re-imagined the genre. Snap back to a 1973 house party for DJ Kool Herc in the Bronx.
Happy Birthday Hip-Hop
Called “All Star Birthday Bash for DJ Kool Herc” on the distributed handbill—one of which is on exhibit, the party is said to be the birthplace of hip-hop. The genre found life amid the social and economic changes arising from the Civil Rights in New York City.
With eclectic beats and movement, hip-hop sampled old-school favorites in jazz, blues, and rock. At the same time, it brought in the soul of the more modern funk and R&B stylings of the time.
The City that Never Sleeps suddenly had something new and bold. Lyrics spoke of struggles in Black communities, and a whole culture and fashion built up around the music.
Quickly gaining national attention, the genre broke into East and West Coast rivalries “beefs” especially between LA and NYC. Today, Atlanta is also a major power in the hip-hop industry.
Hello, Cleveland
While New York City may be hip-hop’s birthplace, Cleveland acted as a hotspot for the genre as it reached national heights. Chuck D of Public Enemy and the PBS docuseries, “Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World” called Cleveland one of the “fantastic, underrated incubators of hip-hop.”
In the 1980s, hip-hop met Cleveland through DJ Cochise and MC Chill when they formed the rap group, “The Bomb Squad.” At the time, the genre was relatively unknown in the area but the group persisted. In 1981, WDMT FM 108 hosted a live-on-air DJ battle called "The Showdown" and DJ Cochise participated, mixing and scratching Hip Hop records. He won the showdown and became an overnight local celebrity.
WDMT allowed DJs began to spin hip-hop records on air on the weekends for a show called “The Club Style Show.” By 1984, MC Chill became the first non-coastal rapper to have a hit song.
We can’t talk about Cleveland hip-hop legends without discussing Bones-Thugs-N-Harmony who rose to fame and went on to win multiple awards including a Grammy for "Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group" in 1997.
And the Land still bringing out big names in the industry like Kid Cudi and Chase. Lebron James has acted as an A&R (artists and repertoire), finding new talent for labels like 2 Chainz’s new album in 2019.
Tour the Exhibit
The exhibit opened on June 29, 2023, with a star-studded dedication event. In attendance were Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Darryl “DMC” McDaniels or Run-D.M.C., and Chuck D and Flava Flav of Public Enemy. Guests and party-goers snapped photos of the celebrities on a miniature red carpet and heard these icons discuss hip-hop’s historical impact.
Hip-hop’s first billionaire, Jay-Z, gifted a 1999 outfit work on the Hard Knock Life tour with a shirt by Rocawear and shoes by Nike. Set in a section for Moguls, Jay-Z’s 99 Problems hockey jersey is also on display. Visitors can check out Pepa’s (from Salt-N-Pepa) Jamaican-colored jackets from the “Push It” video. These were the first women in the genre to have an album ("Hot, Cool & Vicious") to go Gold and Platinum.
Visitors may note that many artifacts are fashion choices and wardrobe statements. These pieces started trends that still remain culturally significant today. Other notable items include handwritten lyrics and quintessential musical instruments from the greats.
Curated by Shelby Morrison and Amanda Pecsenye, the exhibit also features an education section for students to learn about Rock Hall Inductees including the innovator of the genre DJ Kool Herc.