The National Museum of African American History and Culture, which is part of the Smithsonian, has announced that it will host its second annual hip-hop block party this August. The event will hold at the intersection of Madison Drive NW and 14th Street NW and feature performances, interactive art, and exhibits celebrating the 50th anniversary of the genre. The full line-up of artists and programming will be released in the coming months, and the event will be free to attend. However, tickets will be required for entry, and they will be available online in July.
The inaugural celebration of the event in 2022 marked the one-year anniversary of the Smithsonian’s Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap. Still, this year’s event will celebrate the genre’s evolution and innovation over the past 50 years. To coincide with the event, the museum will install an outdoor panel exhibition that includes artefacts from the museum’s collection.
The hip-hop block party will also coincide with the museum’s Afrofuturism exhibit. The exhibit is a 4,000-square-foot temporary exhibit showcasing items from history, politics, and pop culture, including the Black Panther suit from the blockbuster film, that celebrates all things associated with the genre.
Last year’s block party was a successful debut for the event, drawing a large crowd downtown. Radio personality Vic Jagger hosted the event, which featured performances by J. Period, The Halluci Nation, and D. Smoke, and DJ Heat.
Further details about the party, such as the complete schedule and event logistics, are coming to NMAAHC’s website soon. Stay tuned!
