Rappers, Executives & More Write Letters to the Culture – Billboard

This yr marks the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop, a milestone that’s being celebrated with curated live shows, particular programming and extra.

To commemorate such a momentous birthday, influential hip-hop executives and artists honor the groundbreaking and culture-defining style with private love letters to the artwork kind that continues to encourage them every single day — and can for a lot of extra years to return.

Tuma Basa
Director of Black music and tradition, YouTube

I grew up in Zimbabwe listening to hip-hop from right here and will really feel the realness from all the way in which over there. And in true hip-hop vogue, after I received to the States, I used to be capable of flip my love for hip-hop into a complete profession. To me, it’s not only a tradition, it’s a vibration. … It’s not simply music, it’s the precise information! That clever reflection of actuality is unmatched and goes to maintain me loving it until infinity.

Jermaine Dupri
Artist/producer/songwriter/DJ; creator; CEO, So So Def

I consider hip-hop has created alternatives and opened doorways for individuals — artists, producers, designers, and so on. — that no different music style has. It’s a way of life that has developed over 50 years and its legacy is deeply rooted in Black tradition and our experiences. Numerous the alternatives I make are as a result of hip-hop makes me do it.

Stephen Hill
TV producer; former BET and MTV government

Socially acutely aware music existed earlier than hip-hop; artists noticed social challenges, oppressions and disparities and included their views into their work. Usually brilliantly, hip-hop is and has been the platform on which those that truly reside their day by day lives absolutely in these challenges, oppressions and disparities can stand and be seen and heard … authentically. Hip-hop can be one of many entities chargeable for the biggest progress in Black millionaires (and some billionaires) on this nation. Elevated Black wealth results in elevated Black possession. Black possession results in a cleaner and higher lit, although not unfettered, path to freedom. That is America.

MC Lyte
Rapper/DJ/entrepreneur

Hip-hop means the whole lot to me. It has been an integral a part of my life since I used to be a child and is woven into each vital cloth of my life. It put me on a pathway and journey that I couldn’t have imagined at first. It has modified my life, my household’s lives and so many others over the previous 50 years. Hip-hop is past music. It’s model, vogue, dance and even taught as a part of the curriculum in universities nationwide. Hip-hop has allowed me to make use of my voice to encourage, ignite and provides again. Additionally it is the embodiment of Black tradition and the final word voice of the individuals. I’m so proud to be a part of its legacy, which is consistently rising and evolving — because it ought to. Hip-hop is endlessly.

Mona Scott-Younger
CEO, Monami Leisure

To me, hip-hop has all the time represented freedom. Extra than simply freedom of expression, it’s freedom from the restrictions of stereotype, freedom from socioeconomic boundaries and freedom to reside and communicate our reality. Hip-hop is neighborhood — a typical expression of experiences that enables us to connect with each other and higher perceive one another, even when the experiences expressed will not be our personal. Hip-hop is a worldwide platform that enables us to be heard, seen, acknowledged and acknowledged in areas and locations the place we’d not in any other case have a voice. Hip-hop is a testomony to our resiliency and ingenuity and its legacy is one in all hope, empowerment and freedom.

Mopreme Shakur
Rapper/producer; member of Thug Life with stepbrother Tupac Shakur

For individuals who grew up in our era, hip-hop was our hope, our dream, our creation, our child. It’s one thing that brings us delight and affirmation of the ability of our voices to attach with the world. Our creation got here from the bottom up and it has fed our communities. Hip-hop is our tradition, our love, and most of us don’t give a rattling who likes it or not. We’re the rebels whose artwork turned a pressure and went on to encourage the world. Hip-hop and its legacy imply energy to me. Lengthy reside hip-hop!

Roxanne Shanté
Rap legend; host, SiriusXM

Again within the day, they all the time mentioned that hip-hop was not going to final. So now, to be right here 50 years in and to have the celebration we’re having proper now worldwide, for me, it’s an honor and a blessing. When you concentrate on how they all the time thought that hip-hop was solely going to be the music for the city space or how they thought it was all the time the information for the city kids going by means of conditions and circumstances, it now appears to be the phrase for everybody, in all places. Nothing will be offered with out it, no story will be informed with out it. It’s an exquisite factor.

This story will seem within the Aug. 5, 2023, challenge of Billboard.