Are you ready to get down with the beat and step into the world of hip hop culture? Look no further than the Universal Hip Hop Museum, a soon-to-be historical landmark located on Exterior Street in the birthplace of hip hop itself, The Bronx. The museum, founded in 2015 by hip hop Godfathers Kurtis Blow, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Melly Mel, supported with a $3.5M grant by the New York state and corporate partners including Microsoft and MIT, aims to celebrate the music, dance, art, and culture of hip hop while preserving its legacy for generations to come.
But the museum is not just a tribute to the past. It’s also an ode to the present and future of hip hop. Visitors can expect to be transported through the different eras and styles of hip hop, from old school pioneers to today’s chart-topping hits. The Universal Hip Hop Museum, spanning 52,000 square feet in the South Bronx multi-use development project called Bronx Point, is set to include a 300-seat theater along with gallery and community space for all to enjoy.
The excitement for the museum’s grand opening, scheduled for 2024 in conjunction with hip hop’s 50th anniversary, is palpable. However, visitors don’t have to wait until then to experience a taste of what the Universal Hip Hop Museum has to offer. The [R]Evolution of Hip Hop Experience, the museum’s first public exhibit, opened at the Bronx Terminal Market in December 2019. The 2,350 square-foot exhibit is completely free and includes artifacts, music, photographs, interactive kiosks, and a DJ stand where visitors can test out their skills and become the life of the party.
And while the museum is currently under construction, that didn’t stop the hip hop community from coming together for the groundbreaking ceremony on May 20, 2021. Hip hop icons such as Nas, LL Cool J, and Fat Joe were in attendance to officially launch the capital campaign for the museum. LL Cool J himself spoke at the event, saying, “Hip hop made me believe that anything was possible.”
The Universal Hip Hop Museum is not just any museum – it’s a cultural powerhouse that continues to inspire and shape the world of hip hop as we know it. So come and witness the evolution of hip hop, and get ready to rock to the rhythm.
