Welcome to the [R]Evolution of Hip Hop, an interactive journey through history using artifacts, multimedia, artificial intelligence, and virtual and augmented technologies.
Open Now Thru Dec 2021
The [R]Evolution Exhibition
The [R]Evolution of Hip Hop is an immersive journey through Hip Hop History is conceived by creative agents from multiple artistic backgrounds that employ archives and experimental storytelling techniques focusing on the five elements of Hip Hop: MCing, DJing, Breakdancing, Aerosol Art, Knowledge. The exhibit celebrates Hip Hop’s emergence from the park jams and the projects to nightclubs, national concert tours, TV, and motion pictures circa 1980 to 1985. The innovative music, art, dance, and fashion that first permeated city streets in the Bronx, Harlem, Brooklyn, and Queens in the 1970s made its way Downtown. Savvy club promoters and risk-taking entrepreneurs would fuel the commercialization of Hip Hop culture and would give rise to the first Rap record labels, Master-Mixes on Black radio, and the first smash hits on the Billboard charts. This artistic and cultural revolution would soon spread Hip Hop to the West Coast and to every corner of the world.
[R]Evolution of Hip Hop Breakbeat Narratives
The centerpiece installation – “[R]Evolution of Hip Hop Breakbeat Narratives,” featuring the Elementals character –
is the museum’s first Artificial Intelligence project.
The “Breakbeat Narratives” is a collaboration between the Universal Hip Hop Museum, Microsoft, and the MIT Center for Advanced Virtuality, offering museum-goers the ability to take home a playlist of songs through a personalized narrative of Hip Hop history.
Multimedia Timeline
The [R]Evolution of Hip Hop podcast features special guest Kurtis Blow, The King of Rap. Interviewed by Popmaster Fabel, of the legendary dance group the Rock Steady Crew, Kurtis Blow talks about his career and the movement of the Universal Hip Hop Museum.
Before Hip Hop became mainstream, there were only a few commercial stations that played Rap songs on air. In this two-part episode of the [R]Evolution of Hip Hop Podcast, the UHHM pays tribute to the legendary Awesome 2’s Special K, for being one of the first radio DJ’s to spin Rap songs on radio.
Rocky Bucano, Executive Director of the Universal Hip Hop Museum, sits down with Ndaba Mandela to discuss the legacy of his grandfather, Nelson Mandela, and the release of his new book, Going to The Mountain.
The Curators
[R]Evolution Entrances
Arrive at Bronx Terminal Market. Enter on the ground level at 610 Exterior Street, next door to HOSTOS Community College Media Center (Entrance 1), or on the Lower Level in the parking garage next to Subway Sandwich shop (Entrance 2).
Hours of Operation
Thurs-Sat 12pm-5:30pm | Sun 1pm-6:30pm
COVID-19 Protocols
Beginning August 17 2021, the City of New York launched the Key to NYC.
In accordance with this New York City mandate, visitors 12 years of age and older must show (1) proof of at least one dose of vaccination against COVID-19, and
(2) a valid ID with name and photo or name and date of birth to gain entry to the museum, which includes The [R]Evolution of Hip Hop.
To experience the [R]Evolution, you must show proof of at least one vaccination and a valid ID with name and photo or name and date of birth
Exhibit staff and volunteers at our [R]Evolution of Hip Hop are required to be vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID PCR test at least twice a week.
Proof of vaccination includes:
CDC Vaccination Card,
NYC COVID Safe App on Android and iOS,
NYS Excelsior Pass,
NYC Vaccination Record,
An official immunization record from outside New York City or the United States, or
Any other form of proof adopted by Health and Safety.
Examples of acceptable ID include:
Driver’s license
Government ID
Passport
Student ID
If you require an accommodation to the face covering requirement based on a medical condition, disability, or sincerely held religious belief, please contact tickets@uhhm.org three (3) days before your visit.
If you received the vaccine outside the United States, you must have an official immunization record that includes:
First name and last name,
Date of birth,
Vaccine product name (only vaccines authorized by the WHO are acceptable),
Date(s) administered,
Site where the vaccine was administered,
or the name of the person who administered it.
The highly contagious delta variant is spreading quickly in New York City, and unvaccinated people are at the most risk for infection, hospitalization, and death.
You can get vaccinated for free; learn how to do so here.
For more information on the mandate, visit NYC.gov.