New York Public Library Celebrates 50 Years of Hip Hop with New Programming Series, Recommended Reading Lists, and Community Events

NYPL will commemorate 50 years of hip hop with a months-long celebration in collaboration with the Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library. 

The New York Public Library will launch 50 Years of Hip Hop, a programming series to explore and celebrate the global culture, history, and future of hip hop. NYPL branches across Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx will recognize a genre created in New York City that went on to impact the world through open mics, block parties, author talks, and reading recommendations until Fall 2023.

Among a robust slate of programming, NYPL branches will continually roll out art activations, reading recommendations, research resources, and more to continue the conversation with a culminating event in August for the anniversary celebration of hip hop. Patrons can check the ongoing Hip Hop event series for free events near them, with more to be announced on a rolling basis.

“Hip-hop is me and I am hip-hop – it is a way of life. Hip-hop is rooted in access, expression, activism, and collaboration since the moment it was created. What better place to really explore all facets of hip-hop culture than libraries, which serve as a cultural beacon of our communities,” said Dr. Brandy McNeil, NYPL Deputy Director of Branch Programs & Services. “From its roots in the Boogie Down Bronx to its foundations in funk and soul in Harlem – our hip-hop programming this year will be exploring the rich culture of the genre citywide. That includes access to knowledge, technology, art, fashion, dance, and of course, music.” As the New York Public Library continues to provide access to the world’s knowledge, the 50 Years of Hip Hop will also allow patrons to explore the research materials within NYPL research branches – such as the Hip-Hop Archive Project Files Collection at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Vibe Magazine Archive at the Library for the Performing Arts. Along with programming, the Library released a booklist of 50 Recommended Reads on Hip Hop History, Culture and Icons for all ages. 

Through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the project is a collaborative initiative led by the Queens Public Library and The Gates Preserve with more than 30 organizations nationwide. This collaboration of libraries along with other cultural institutions is designed to reach wider audiences and provide greater access to research, programs, and knowledge.

The celebration marks a pivotal moment in NYC history when, in 1973 at a South Bronx house party, DJ Kool Herc switched, repeated, and isolated tracks through record breaks, creating one of the first instances of the genre as people would come to know it. Early hip hop is rooted in collaboration among intersecting groups of Black, Latinx/e, and Caribbean American youth with foundations in funk and soul music. Its impact and influence extend beyond music throughout culture, from fashion to film to literature and more.

All 50 Years of Hip Hop at New York Public Library programming, resources, and book lists can be seen on a rolling basis.

About The New York Public Library

For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With over 90 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars. The New York Public Library receives approximately 16 million visits through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.