Commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip hop and designating August 11, 2023, as “Hip Hop Celebration Day”, designating August 2023 as “Hip Hop Recognition Month”, and designating November 2023 as “Hip Hop History Month”.

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip hop and designating August 11, 2023, as “Hip Hop Celebration Day”, designating August 2023 as “Hip Hop Recognition Month”, and designating November 2023 as “Hip Hop History Month”.

Whereas 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the creation of hip hop;

Whereas, on August 11, 1973, Clive “DJ Kool Herc” Campbell introduced his innovative style of disc jockeying at an event organized by his sister, Cindy Campbell, called the “Back To School Jam”, which was held in the recreation room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York;

Whereas, together, Clive “DJ Kool Herc” Campbell and the master of ceremonies engaged the crowd with rap on the microphone, while partygoers known as B-boys and B-girls danced, and introduced a new style, later known as “hip hop”, which combined the elements of a disc jockey (commonly known as a “DJ”), a master of ceremonies (commonly known as an “MC”), music, art, and dance;

Whereas Clive “DJ Kool Herc” Campbell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023;

Whereas, from the humble beginnings of hip hop in New York City, the music, lyricism, dance, and art of hip hop has become a culture found in communities across the United States, and has long been a worldwide phenomenon;

Whereas the art and culture of hip hop is an original creation of the United States and one of the most popular genres of music within the United States;

Whereas hip hop has had notable Southern influences following its Northern inception, such as jazz and bounce from New Orleans, Louisiana, the blues from Mississippi, and country from the South, and these influences along with other celebrated genres of music, such as disco, gospel, soul, rock and roll, and Indigenous music from across the United States, have all helped hip hop transcend boundaries and contributed significant intellectual heritage and regional influence to the creation and progression of hip hop over the last century;

Whereas the hip hop genre has been reinvented often over the years since 1973, reflecting the State, city, and region of the music, from G-funk and hyphy on the West Coast, to bass and trap in the South, to drill in the Midwest, to many other sounds from coast to coast and from abroad, including contemporary hip hop, which continues that trend by allowing listeners not only to unwind and escape through a rhythmic beat but also to resonate and empathize with the stories being told;

Whereas hip hop artists and supporters, originally of African heritage, now transcend many different ages, ethnicities, religions, locations, political affiliations, and socioeconomic statuses, which demonstrates the versatility and inclusivity of hip hop art and culture;

Whereas the art and culture of hip hop have been adapted in many innovative forms that are inspirational, challenging, humorous, thought-provoking, and spiritual;

Whereas hip hop as a multidimensional art form and lifestyle continues to produce new subgenres of music and stylistic lexicons and promotes new cultural imprints, trends, and movements that reverberate across the United States and around the globe;

Whereas hip hop has provided opportunities for extracurricular activities, youth empowerment, creative outlets, physical fitness, vocabulary exercises, poetry, analytical thinking, entertainment, employment, and economic impact and has become an industry that generates more than $1,000,000,000 annually;

Whereas hip hop art, education, and culture have positive effects on society;

Whereas, on August 11, 2023, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop Celebration Day;

Whereas, during the month of August 2023, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop Recognition Month; and

Whereas, during the month of November 2023, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop History Month: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,