Hip Hop Pioneers Receive New York City Proclamation

By Anonymous -

The City Council on Wednesday finally got some street cred by opening its doors to some old school rappers.Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Melle Mel and other founding fathers of rap turned out for the Council meeting, where they were honored with proclamations celebrating their role in launching a “global cultural revolution.”For a few minutes, Council members acted like giddy fans, crowding around their guests and jockeying to take pictures, which several lawmakers quickly tweeted.

“It is truly an honor to stand here,” said Councilman Fernando Cabrera (D-Bronx), who organized the ceremony.In addition to Bambaataa and Melle Mell, the Council honored Joe Conzo, Grand Wizard Theodore, Cutman LG, Rocky Bucano, Grandmaster Caz, Jorge Fabel Pabon, Pete “DJ” Jones and Kurtis Blow, the first rapper to sign with a major record label. All attended except for Jones, who died in January, and Blow."New York City is more than 8 million rhythms strong, but for nearly 40 years a completely unique rhythm has galvanized into a signature style known as hip hop,” the proclamations said.

“Since its birth in the South Bronx in the 1970s, hip hop has given those living in neighborhoods with abandoned building, crime, and poverty a means of escape. Today hip hop is an international multi billion dollar phenomenon that encompasses much more than music.”



The honorees seemed to enjoy the ceremony, and a few marked the moment by reciting a rap that recalled the history of hip hop.

 “We've been here for 40 years, and we’re still going strong,” Grandmaster Melle Mel said in more formal remarks.

“We've been doing it for so long, and we did it for nothing. There wasn't no money. And we gave all we had, you know what I mean, we laid it down.”

He later said today’s hip hop doesn't hold a candle to the early days.

“They promote that image like there’s something cute about standing on the street selling drugs,” he said. “They make these guys out like a hero. Would you want one of those guys dating your daughter? No!”

Cabrera and the rappers said they would like to see a hip hop museum included in the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx. The building is set to be turned into a massive ice-skating center which will include some community space that has yet to be allocated.


“This museum is so important so that people coming up can understand the roots of hip hip,” said Councilman Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn). “Understand the power of the community. That’s what hip hop means to me.”

By Jennifer Fermino AND  Erin Durkin / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
.

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting. You email address and IP Address has been recorded for future reference. any anonymous comment which is deemed abusive will be removed and investigated for further action.

Popular posts from this blog

FOX NEWS HOST REFUSES TO BOARD PLANE WITH BLACK FEMALE PILOT

By Anonymous -
conservative commentator and author Ann Coulter has lost her mind! She refused to stay on board a Miami to New York flight after learning the pilot was a Black woman. According to witnesses, Coulter was concerned the experienced, decorated pilot may have gained her position as a result of affirmative action and wasn’t fully qualified to fly. The incident began when Coulter boarded the American Airlines flight and took up her first class seat. After a trip to the bathroom, she noticed the pilot was a black woman and became immediately distraught. According to passengers, at that point Coulter stood at the front of the cabin and began screaming her concerns to the entire flight as they finished boarding. “Aw come on people, a black woman flying a plane? You know she got that job through affirmative action. Am I the only one worried about this? I mean hello? Our lives are at stake here…” The confused passengers weren’t sure what to make of Coulter’s outburst, and rema...
Read more

MOM & 12 KIDS HOMELESS AFTER FAKE LANDLORD SCAM

By Anonymous -
Image
After pouring thousands of dollars into her decrepit house, Tocco Collins made the heartbreaking discovery that she had been seriously scammed. The mother of 12 had waited patiently for her landlords to deliver on their promises to fix the house’s holes, broken windows and burned out light box, CBS Atlanta reports. But after seven months, Collins learned that the phonies she had been paying $600 a month in rent didn’t own the home and had also skipped town. The actual owner had no idea her home was being rented out. “Step by step, I’m trying to make some effort,” Collins told the news outlet. “Right now I’m lost.” The Atlanta mother and her children are now homeless. They’re also at risk of getting broken up by child services, a devastating fate that do-gooders are trying to prevent. Members of Occupy Atlanta are raising money for the family to buy a new home, and volunteers said they would help renovate the new residence after it’s secured. Getting duped by a ...
Read more

Run-D.M.C. Producer Larry Smith Dead at 63

By Anonymous -
Image
Larry Smith, producer of some of the most cherished hip-hop records of the Eighties, including Run-D.M.C. 's first two albums, died Thursday at the age of 63. Radio host Combat Jack broke the news on Twitter , writing: "Just spoke to his family. RIP Larry Smith, the original King of Beats who passed away last night." A Queens native, Smith began his career as a session musician and quickly struck up a partnership with Kurtis Blow after playing bass on "Christmas Rappin'."  Smith would continue to play on a number of Blow's tracks, co-writing a few as well, including the MC's breakthrough record, "The Breaks,"  which became the first rap record to be certified gold. Smith then began working with Blow's manager at the time, Russell Simmons. The two co-produced a handful of tracks for Jimmy Spicer – including the oft-sampled "Money (Dollar Bill Y'All)"  – before helping make hip-hop history with Run-D.M.C.'s ...
Read more