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Through his company, Mass Appeal, the native
New Yorker is spearheading numerous events leading up to the
anniversary. On Aug. 11, 1973, Clive Campbell, also known as DJ
Kool Herc, played at a New York City block party and was
credited with starting the music genre.
Tributes will include a series of documentary films produced in
conjunction with TV network Showtime, as well as 10 EP
soundtracks produced by Swizz Beatz, The-Dream, Hit-Boy and
others.
“Hip-Hop was never just music,” said Nas, adding it has always
included elements of deejaying, dancing, fashion and other art
forms.
It has been a “voice for the voiceless,” he said.
“Now more of the voiceless have a platform, and the people feel
like they can be a part of it.”
Mass Appeal CEO Peter Bittenbender said they wanted to create
something to make people recognize how impactful hip-hop culture
has been globally.
Hip-hop was born in the south section of the New York City
borough of the Bronx in the late 1970s. The dancing, rapping and
deejaying elements grew out of an inner-city environment but it
has since evolved into a multi-billion dollar part of mainstream
global culture.
When asked where he thinks hip-hop is going in the next 50
years, Nas was optimistic.
“I hope that it’s still thriving and staying innovative," he
said. “And people are united through hip-hop and awaken about
the things that are wrong in our societies through the words of
hip-hop.”
(Reporting by Alicia Powell and Rollo Ross; Writing by Josie
Kao; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
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