Dove Entertainment to Coordinate Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards Induction Ceremony & Concert 20th Anniversary TV Show in NYC Summer 2016
*New York, NY – The Hip Hop Hall of Fame + Museum wanted to be proactive and responsive to the numerous negative and controversial statements made by the Legendary Gene Simmons of the group Kiss that have been leveled against Hip Hop Music & Culture’s relevance, influence, and NWA being inducted in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame’s musical diaspora. His statements do not have a historical basis in regards to the influences and derivatives of the true foundations of Rock n Roll in America.
Mr. Simmons has talked down on our culture of hip hop, its people, artists, fans, and communities around the world when he says ‘he can’t wait till hip hop dies’, or ‘there is no hip hop hall of fame’, or ‘Ice Cube’s point is valid when Jimi Hendrix is included in the HHHOF.’ He is wrong on all accounts.
First, there is a Hip Hop Hall of Fame which has been in existence for over 20 years. The Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards TV Show was created by JT Thompson in 1992 and later produced with Juanita Dove Williams of Dove Entertainment, as the chief Fundraising vehicle to build an actual HHHOF Museum following the RockHall’s template. The official launch at Sylvia’s in Harlem in 1995 included hip hop pioneers, legends, and record labels. Attendees included Hip Hop Forefather DJ Kool Herc, Mr. Magic, DJ Kool Red Alert, Grandmaster Caz, Easy AD, DJ Lord Yoda X, Pebblee Poo and members of The Furious Five, The Fearless Four, The Treachorous Three, RockSteady Crew, and Zulu Nation. Also Record label executives from Uptown, Cold Chillin, Sony/Columbia, Giant, Motown, Polygram(Universal) and more. The HHHOF Awards Show first aired in national syndication and then on BET Cable Network in 1996.
Among some of the very first Inductees were Rock n Roll Hall of Famers Grandmaster Flash, the late Eazy E of NWA, and Run DMC & Jam Master Jay ‘The Kings of Rock’ who scored a major hit record with ‘Walk This Way’ featuring Legendary rock group Aerosmith highlighting hip hop’s inclusion and infusion of rock and other musical genres and styles. Today the Hip Hop Hall of Fame + Museum is a fully Chartered Non-Profit Museum & Educational Institution that is coming to Harlem, NYC that will unveil its site later this year in 2016.
Secondly, in regards to Ice Cube’s points being valid if and when Jimi Hendrix is welcomed into the HHHOF. Again, Mr. Simmons is wrong in regards to history.
Jimi Hendrix can qualify as an influencer of Hip Hop Music. Lets talk about his time living in Harlem working with the Aleem Brothers, playing benefit concerts on 138th St, or him playing with Buddy Miles and Jalal from the griots ‘Last Poets’ whom many say are a precursor to hip hop because of the spoken raps and funky beats used in the jam sessions. Let’s also explore his Band of Gypsies, Jimi Hendrix group that fused R&B and rock music. Next lets explore all of the hip hop groups that sampled his music including The Pharcyde, Cypress Hill, The Beatsie Boys, and A Tribe Called Quest to name a few. So yes, there is a place for rock n roll in the Hip Hop Hall of Fame. The question is what Mr. Gene Simmons will say when Tone Loc eventually gets into the HHHOF with his song ‘Funky Cold Medina’ which is a sampled Kiss record, and will he accept our invitation to Induct him whenever that happens into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame’, stated HHHOF Legends Committee Co-Chair Kenny ‘DJ Lord Yoda X’ Syder. ‘With All due respect Mr. Simmons owes Ice Cube, NWA, Hip Hop Music Culture, and our colleagues at The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame an apology, and should work with our institutions to foster unity, dialogue, and the cultivation of new and emerging artists who are pushing the limits of creativity like Rock n Roll and Hip Hop artists have done over the decades’, stated JT Thompson, Creator of The Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards Induction Ceremony & Concert TV Special returning this summer 2016.
Thirdly, you stated ‘You can’t wait till hip hop dies’. ‘The fact of the matter is that the elements of hip hop music & culture has been here unrecognized since the beginning of time, and will continue to stand the test of time and not die Mr. Simmons. The 5 Elements of Hip Hop run deep in our cultural history from the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and Arts that are like the Graffiti Artist of today. The deep bass beats and rhythm of the African Drums are like The DJs mixing the music today. From our rich African tribal dances to the slick moves of the Nicholas Brothers from Harlem’s Renaissance are like the BBoys/Girls Breakdancers of today that thrive around the world in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The influences of the early story teller griots and toasters, to the ‘Scat Singers’ rhythmic tones with no words, and Cab Calloway’s ‘Hi-De-Ho’ crowd call and response are just like the modern MCs and rappers of today. They all have combined stories, poetry, music, and dance to excel as entertainers, educators, cultural ambassadors, and historians for the community who also handed down the history of our culture and the struggle of our people from generation to generation.
All in pursuit of knowledge, freedom from slavery, struggle for civil rights, equality and ownership like The Last Poets and Watts Prophets and the early black exploitation films to the Birth of Hip Hop in 1973, and later an anthem song entitled ‘The Message’ by RockHall inductees Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Hip Hop’s journey has since continued to 1989 with RockHall inductees Public Enemy’s ‘Fight The Power’ and NWA ‘Straight Outta Compton’ and other conscious inspiring music. The movement continued into the 1992 LA Riots & LA Gang Truce and the subsequent Founding of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame + Museum, to today’s Black Lives Matter Movement and the Urban trendsetters of Music, Film, TV, Sports, Fashion, Tech, Scholars, and Business. This is the hip hop community’s struggle for free expression, equality, equity, education, entrepreneurship, and socio-economic empowerment and justice. These are the voices of a new generation in America and in countries around the World’, stated JT Thompson, Founder/Chairman of the HHHOF Museum.
The Mission of the Hip Hop Hall of Fame as a Museum & Educational Institution is to Preserve, Archive, Exhibit, Educate, and Showcase the rich history of Hip Hop Music & Culture and its contributions and impact on the larger society and communities around the world. The Hip Hop Hall of Fame + Museum Development Team is in the final negotiation stages to acquire its Harlem, New York location to open in 2017. The HHHOF website is at:
https://hiphophalloffame.org
https://facebook.com/hiphophalloffame https://twitter.com/hiphophof https://instagram.com/hiphophalloffametv https://youtube.com/hiphophalloffametv
For more press, sponsorship, and support information contact Ben Davis or JT Thompson [email protected] .
source:
JT Thompson
[email protected]
