Community leaders
in Queens, New York are teaming with Russell Simmons to build a Hip-Hop Institute,
cultural center and museum in Jamaica Queens.
"There’s so
much positivity and power in Queens and in hip-hop," Simmons told AllHipHop.com.
"We just need to water the good seeds."
Simmons, along
with Charles Fisher, founder of the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council and Senator
Malcolm Smith came up with the idea for the institute.
Simmons said the
proposed institute plans to feature exhibits, memorabilia, a community center
and classes on hip-hop.
In addition to
Simmons, Queens has produced such stars as Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Capone-N-Noreaga,
AZ, LL Cool J, Irv Gotti, Ja Rule, Run-DMC, 50 Cent, Onyx, Large Professor and
others.