Kamala Harris says hip-hop is ‘the final word American artwork type’ as she hosts a fiftieth anniversary social gathering
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday hosted a celebration of hip-hop’s fiftieth anniversary with appearances by among the music style’s pioneers and stars.
Widespread, Jeezy, MC Lyte and Roxanne Shante had been among the many hip-hop artists invited to affix Harris for the social gathering on the vice presidential residence.
Hip-hop’s fiftieth birthday has impressed a number of anniversary occasions this yr. Many hint the style’s creation to an Aug. 11, 1973, back-to-school social gathering the place 18-year-old Clive Campbell, often known as DJ Kool Herc, deejayed at a Bronx condo constructing in New York Metropolis.
Harris mentioned hip-hop is “the final word American artwork type” that “shapes each facet of America’s fashionable tradition.”
“Hip-hop tradition is American tradition,” she informed the group.
Hip-hop has grown into a worldwide artform, changing into one of many world’s most influential cultural forces, an integral a part of social and racial justice actions and a multibillion-dollar business constructed on generations of rapping, emceeing, deejaying, breaking and graffiti.
Harris famous that Public Enemy rapper Chuck D has described rap as “Black America’s CNN.”
“It has all the time channeled the voices of the folks. It tells the tales that don’t make the information,” she mentioned earlier than becoming a member of her husband, Doug Emhoff, to look at musicians’ performances.
Saturday’s celebration was a collaboration with Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Dwell Nation City.
“It is a hip-hop family!” Emhoff mentioned.
