Benny Cruz and Jens Franzén: Making “Old” Stuff New, Always Relatable and Relevant
![](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/danny-savage-benny-.webp)
Benny Cruz, interdisciplinary artist and THHM Donor photographed by Jens FranzénJens Franzén, photographer and THHM Donor photographed by Bruce Gilden (Magnum Photos, London, England, 2019) These remarkable artists, based in […]
James A. Peterson: Brushing with Fame, Making Greatness
![James A. Peterson visual artist UHHM donor](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/james-a-peterson-hip-hop-1024x683.jpg)
“Growing up a small poor white kid in a multi-ethnic neighborhood in Milwaukee, I am glad that Hip Hop found me, and I found it. It made me feel cool and tough and hip. I don’t know if I was any of those, but thankfully the music helped me exude those things to a degree. I am unbelievably honored to be able to share gifts and collaborate creatively with some of the people who have had the biggest influence ever on Hip Hop music and culture. Then, to have those interactions and collaborations be installed in a museum dedicated to the music I have loved the most in my life brings me unspeakable joy.”
Richard Montes: Passing the Mic with Intention and Impact
![Richard Montes writer director producer Pass The Mic film UHHM donor](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Richard-Montes-1024x1024.jpg)
“My work as a filmmaker aims to document, preserve, and tell stories that highlight my communities’ histories. Having the “Pass the Mic!” Collection at the Universal Hip Hop Museum contributes towards the well-being and unity of Brown, Indigenous, Black, and immigrant communities.”
Michael Benabib: Synchronized with and Supportive of Hip Hop since 1985
“I feel like Hip Hop picked me. It presented itself to me on the street. This movement picked me because of the way I experienced it on the streets of New York. It was such a dynamic force in 1985-1986. I was compelled to start taking these photos. Because it was happening. It was viral. It was coming out of the speakers. Kangol hats. It solved the problem that every artist has: where are you going to point your camera? I was in the right place at the right time. And I ran with it.” – Michael Benabib
Jamie Robinson (aka Mr. Throwback Thursday): Making Throwbacks the Legends They’re Supposed to Be
![Jamie Robinson Mr. Throwback Thursday Classic Hip Hop UHHM Universal Hip Hop Museum donor](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Jamie-835x1024.jpg)
“As a white kid growing up in rural New York, absolutely LOVING Hip Hop starting in the early 80s, and being told over and over to ‘Turn that crap off,” it fills my heart to know that I lived to see a museum for the culture that I have loved for so long.” – Jamie Robinson aka Mr. Throwback Thursday
GF Anon: Striving, Pushing, and Exemplifying the Culture
![GF Anon Hip Hop Artist Author UHHM Donor](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/GFANON.jpeg)
“This donation helped me realize that I have a voice in the culture, and that everything that I’ve been creating throughout the years isn’t falling on deaf ears. Growing up with depression and self-doubt, Hip Hop provided an outlet and a safe haven to fully express myself. Hip Hop saved a lot of people’s lives, including mine. I will continue to strive and push the culture in the right direction.” – GF Anon
Ope Odumakin: Edutaining the Masses with DailyRapFacts®
![Ope Odumakin DailyRapFacts Founder UHHM donor](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Ope-Odumakin.png)
What’s Important About These Items Building from the ground up is how all music, particularly jazz, spirituals, and Hip Hop, came to be. When Ope Odumakin began DailyRapFacts® and rooted […]
Nomad Carlos: Making Beats Underground and Around the World
![Nomad Carlos Jamaican MC Hip Hop UHHM donor](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Nomad-Carlos-original-portrait-1024x683.jpg)
What’s Important About These Items Once upon a time, in the tropical kingdom of Kingston, Jamaica, Nomad Carlos co-created the underground Hip Hop scene. Miami-born, Kingston-raised, and now based in […]
Eric Chambers: Painting Hip Hop’s Golden Age with Pro-Black Allegorical Art
![Eric Chambers visual artist art teacher UHHM donor](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/eric_boombox.jpg)
What’s Important About These Items As an art teacher today, and one who was a member of a graffiti crew in the mid-1980s, who learned how to pop lock from […]
Danny Savage: Dedicated to Hip Hop’s Roots and Impact
![Danny Savage UHHM donor collector Hip Hop culture revolutionary](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Danny-Savage-portrait-3-scaled-1.png)
What’s Important About These Items In a world, in a life, where music was recorded and released on tangible material, the promotional components were part of the audio experience. Danny […]
Christian Paniagua: Bringing Hip Hop to Life via Visual Art
![Christian Paniagua visual artist graphic designer illustrator donor UHHM](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Christian-Paniagua-portrait-scaled-1.png)
What’s Important About These Items The truest music can be seen as well as heard. Christian Paniagua knows this. His art is born of, and fueled by, his roots – […]
Rich Berrios: Bringing LL Cool J’s DNA to Life with Apparel
![Rich Berrios UHHM donor Todd Smith LL Cool J creative design](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/berriosrich.jpg)
What’s Important About These Items Approached, circa 2007, by a company with an offer to create a clothing line for a prominent musician, Rich Berrios had no idea he was […]
Luis Uriondo: Living the South Bronx, Forever and Always
![Luis Uriondo South Bronx donor UHHM](https://uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Luis-Uriondo-original-714x1024.jpeg)
What’s Important About This Item Accessories and apparel are to Hip Hop what stilettos and pocket squares are to fashion. The t-shirt Luis Uriondo chose to donate resonates with him, […]