Hiphop Pioneers boycott National Hiphop Museum
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© 2013 Hiphopscholar.org
since 2004
About six years ago I wrote a piece that seems rather timely now. I was suggesting that Hiphop should have its own custodians. This is not to be confused with some self-elected Hiphop police who suggest a narrowly defined understanding of the culture and its manifestations but rather those with an understanding beyond the surface. In short people who
have both participated in the culture as
well as studied it. In the words of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “nothing in
the world is more dangerous than
sincere ignorance and conscientious
stupidity”. This is not to say the idea of
the National Hip Hop Museum is a
bad idea, it isnt.However as I wrote
then, “Hiphoppas must be the caretakers
of their history; otherwise others will
take care of writing them out of their
own history”.
To do this accurately the pioneers of
Hiphop must be consulted. Consulted
not co-opted or asked to show up to
lend credibility to a particular enterprise, which often happens. Students of Hiphop are in a unique position in this regard. A great majority of key pioneers and first schoolers (folks immediately following the founders) are still alive to speak for themselves and their contributions (Kool Herc, Cindy Campbell, Afrika Bambattaa, Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Crazy Legs, etc.). There are also a growing number of credible hiphopscholars whose personal experiences and professional research are shaped by a Hiphop world view
KRS provides an impromptu address on the significance of including these voices.
-AK
