The Rap Up: 50 Years of Hip-Hop

Join us at The New York Public Library's historic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building to celebrate the impact and legacy of hip-hop culture at The Rap Up!

The Rap Up is an immersive experience that will take you back in time to hip-hop's early years with a series of panel discussions and hip-hop exhibits featuring VIBE Magazine editor-in-chief Datwon Thomas, Wild Style director Charlie Ahearn, Fab 5 Freddy, award-winning hip-hop artist Mickey Factz, legendary DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore, fashion icons 5001 Flavors and April Walker, acclaimed author and journalist Vikki Tobak, music by DJ Spinna, and more.

Click here to see the full lineup and event details.

ADMISSION & RE-ENTRY

Tickets are valid for the duration of the event. Ticket holders will be admitted entry on a first come, first served basis and all entry is subject to venue capacity. Re-entry is permitted provided venue capacity limit has not been reached at that time. 

Security will inspect all bags upon entry. Single-use or reusable water bottles are permitted inside the event area. No other outside food or beverages will be permitted inside the event area.   

Please use the accessible entrance on 42nd Street. 

This event will be photographed. The New York Public Library may capture photos or video of you during this event for library promotional purposes. Please notify staff if you do not wish to be photographed or filmed.

Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop at NYPL

Join The New York Public Library this summer to celebrate 50 years of hip-hop with programs, reading recommendations, and more! In 1973 at a South Bronx house party, DJ Kool Herc isolated and repeated the percussive “break” in the tracks he was spinning, creating one of the first instances of hip-hop as people would come to know it. In the 50 years since then, hip-hop’s impact and influence have reached beyond music throughout culture, from fashion to film to literature and more. Learn more.

New Special-Edition Hip-Hop Library Card!

Available in all NYPL locations starting July 14, our special-edition library card commemorating 50 years of hip-hop features imagery from the soundtrack cassette of the iconic 1983 film Wild Style, directed by Charlie Ahearn, widely considered to be the first film dedicated to hip-hop. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture holds the original cassette in its collections alongside key archives related to the birth and legacy of hip-hop. The cassette book, which was produced by Kaz Kuzui, includes photos of soundtrack producer Fab 5 Freddy and the “Wild Style” art that was created by artists Zephyr, Revolt, and Sharp. Get your hip-hop library card!