By Mekhi Abbott
Special to the AFRO
mabbott@afro.com
The National Hip-Hop Museum (NHHM) closed out the year by honoring hip-hop legends at their Hip-Hop Holiday Honors held at the historic Bethesda Theater on Dec. 28. The recognition was in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the movie “Beat Street” and was highlighted by performances by Kool Moe Dee and Lords of the Underground, among others.
The full list of hip-hop acts recognized were Kool Moe Dee, John Chartier, Robert Taylor, Mr. Wave, The Treacherous Three, Marley Marl, Lords of the Underground, Soul Sonic Force, DJ Jazzy Jay and The Fearless Four. Multi-platinum recording artist and NHHM executive producer Master Gee served as the emcee for the event. This is the museum’s largest induction ceremony to date and it was followed by a concert by the inductees.
“For us, two cats from Newark, New Jersey, and one from Cleveland, to be a part of this culture and to be honored on this stage here tonight is just an unbelievable feeling,” said Dupré “DoItAll” Kelly of the Lords of the Underground.
The group’s inception occurred at Shaw University, a historically Black university in North Carolina. Kelly and Al’Terik “Mr. Funke” Wardrick, the two Newark emcees, linked up with DJ Lord Jazz, who Wardrick credits for being the founder of the Lords of the Underground. Kelly went on to become the first platinum-selling hip-hop artist to win an elected official seat in the United States.
Mohandas “Kool Moe Dee” Dewese was inducted into the National Hip-Hop Museum for the second time, thus earning him a legacy award. He is one of only three artists to receive such honor.
“Hip-hop started in 1973, when I was 11 years old,” said Dewese. “At 12, I knew I never wanted to work a day in my life. I knew that…I wanted to do hip-hop from that day on because it was a way to make a living for myself. Not that I thought it was going to be what it is now, but I knew it was a way to stay sustained financially. So when I see Jay Z is a billionaire, I’m saying we were right.”
Outside of musical acts, fashion icon Eddie “Scorpio” Morris of the Furious Five and breakdancer Mr. Wave were also recognized for their contributions to hip-hop culture. Scorpio’s relationship with Rick James and Eddie Murphy helped aid his fashion sense, and he is already a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“The Hip-Hop Holiday Honors is a five-year culmination of the work we’ve been doing to preserve, archive and honor the legacy of hip-hop’s greatest legends. That night just happened to sync up with the 40th anniversary of ‘Beat Street,’” said NHHM founder Jeremy Beaver.
“Beat Street,” released in 1984, was the first major motion picture about hip-hop. According to Beaver, NHHM is currently honoring the era of hip-hop from 1973 to 2000. After that, the museum will transition into honoring the next 20 years of hip-hop and that generation of rappers, DJs, producers and other contributors.
As part of its mission, the Museum established two House of Hip-Hop Art Galleries located in Washington, D.C. The flagship gallery is located on Georgia Avenue near the entrance of Howard University, which showcases the “50 Years of Hip-Hop” exhibit. The newer location on Florida Avenue is full of rare, vintage posters.
“A lot of the energy behind our educational efforts stem from the lack of integrity in hip-hop ethics that our generation sees in some of the newer hip-hop. So let’s show people why and how these legends are important not just to the music and culture, but giving younger generations a better perspective on what’s important in hip-hop,” said Beaver. “I’m just now having an epiphany that maybe our efforts have had a positive effect on American hip-hop and society because five years ago we were at a much suckier point. But I think we’re at a great place now.”
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