The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is exhibiting âRepresent: Hip-Hop Photographyâ until May of next year, and chronicling the cultureâs origins through photography, short films, and objects relevant to its history.
Just as hip-hop itself is comprised of four elementsâDJs, MCs, breakdancers, and graffitiâso is the exhibit. The approach here is broken down into four sections: identity, creativity, activism, and community. That means youâll learn about the various slice-of-life stories found in hip-hop, the innovation of the art form, social justice activity in the culture, and about its birthplace.Â
This latest exhibit makes sure to take museum visitors to the very beginning, when films like Wyld Style and Graffiti Rock introduced a whole generation to the scene that originated in New York City. There are rare items on display such as a mega-rare cassette tape of Mobb Deepâs The Infamous, and evenâbeholdâan unmastered pre-release cassette of Nasâ debut, Illmatic. The primary focus, of course, is in the photography visually detailing those early days, with the Eyejammie Collection ensuring visitors more clearly understand the roots.Â
That collection, which the museum purchased in 2015, is the most extensive collection of hip-hop photography of all time. It was curated by Bill Adler, a historian of the culture and former publicist for Def Jam who previously showcased some of the photos in a New York art gallery. âRepresent: Hip-Hop Photographyâ boasts an incredible collection of over 400 pictures from nearly 60 photographers like Harry Allen, Janette Beckman, Jamel Shabazz and others. They include photos of Nas in front of the Queensboro Bridge, Black Sheep with the World Trade Towers in the background, and a young LL Cool J during his first show at New Yorkâs Benjamin Franklin High School.
âTo showcase a sampling of the Eyejammie Collection through this exhibition exemplifies the Smithsonianâs commitment to continue telling the important story of hip-hopâs cultural and historical significance,â said Rhea Combs, who curates photography and film and serves as director of the Center for African American Media Arts (CAAMA). âThe pairing of photographs will challenge our visitors to view hip-hop within the context of a long-standing tradition of black creative achievement. It also reminds us that hip-hop is based upon rearticulating other arts that are constantly changing over time.â
It goes without sayingâbut also deserves explicit statingâthat should you find yourself anywhere near the Washington D.C. museum at any point in the next 12 months, you should make your way to the exhibit. Too much of our time is focused on whatâs hot right now, what to look forward to, and debates regarding top fives or whoâs wack. Not enough time, in my opinion, is spent on the pastâand how we all got here in the first place.Â
Read more about the "Represent: Hip-Hop Photography" exhibit here.