This year hip-hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Fifty years ago, in 1973, DJ Kool Herc threw a party at 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, which has since become the time and place people believe hip-hop was born, and this August, a vast array of events are being held in honour of the genre.
One of the most significant events is ‘Hip-Hop 50 Live‘, a concert dedicated to rap music and its impact and the world. The event, hosted by Mass Appeal and Live Nation Urban, will see performances from the likes of DJ Kool Herc & Cindy Campbell, Grandmaster Caz, Kurtis Blow, Melle Mel, Roxanne Shante, Scorpio and even Run-DMC.
Taking place in the Bronx at the Yankee Stadium, a mere 15-minute walk from the exact location Kool Herc first began playing the breaks of funk records, some of the genre’s biggest names will be taking to the Yankee Stadium stage.
Since its creation, hip-hop has birthed many subgenres across the world, including Miami bass, G-funk, UK grime and more. Aside from the old-school acts previously mentioned, ‘Hip-Hop 50 Live’ will be inviting the likes of Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, Fat Joe and Ghostface Killah.
Due to this landmark moment in rap music, the Grammy awards have curated a playlist of what they have labelled as a “crash course on the genre’s worldwide cultural impact” that features the essential releases in hip-hop from 1973 until today. The playlist features songs from all regions of the US and contains over 50 tracks that showcase the best of each decade hip-hop has lived through.
The playlist has been ordered region by region and scene by scene to showcase the astounding breadth and width of the culture. According to grammy.com, the playlist just provides “further proof of the genius of Black American music”.
You can listen to the playlist below.