By Tai Saint Louis
The National Museum of Hip-Hop (NMoH) has planned a star-studded black-tie event to not only raise funds for the completion of the physical museum, but to also raise awareness of the many community initiatives that are tied into the museum’s mission.
The event, scheduled for February 9, 2010, will be hosted by legendary emcees Chuck D and KRS-One, and will be held at the M2 Ultra Lounge in New York City, just blocks from the NMoH’s proposed Manhattan location.
The exclusive guestlist for the gala will run the gamut of Hip-Hop luminaries who have contributed to the culture the NMoH seeks to preserve.
Attendees including Big Daddy Kane, the Cold Crush Brothers, members of the Rock Steady Crew, MC Lyte, Rakim, DJ Red Alert, Ralph McDaniels, The Roots, Redman and will be the first to preview the museum’s building plans and programs.
Bill Adler, Dr. Ben Chavis, Andre Harrell, Afrika Bambaataa, Terry Stewart and Jim Fricke will all join the hosts as event co-chairs.
The National Museum of Hip-Hop was founded in 2005 with a mission to commemorate the achievements of individual artists and Hip-Hop culture as a whole, while educating visitors about how the culture continues to thrive today.
"The timing is perfect for the development of a museum that will preserve the great culture of Hip-Hop, a museum that will serve as not only a beacon for Hip-Hop's achievements but also as a hub for community enlistment,” said NMoH President Craig Wilson.
In addition to housing the history of Hip-Hop culture since its inception in an Manhattan facility that is over 100,000 square feet, the “first ever” true Hip-Hop Museum will offer job training programs benefiting the local homeless, substance-abusers, and unemployed.
The Museum will also offer a political education program that will not only offer free classes about the political process, but also support students interested in politics by providing a space for practice debates, campaigns and the development of programs and policy.
The project is supported by an Advisory Board which includes Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons; political activist Dr. Ben Chavis; Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell; Leyla Turkkan, C.E.O. and President of PR/Marketing firm The Catalyst Group; Hip-Hop curator, journalist and publicist Bill Adler; Bob Santelli, executive director of the Grammy Museum; and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s President and C.E.O. Terry Stewart.