Hip-Hop Is Being Honored In The United States With Official Holidays

Photo Courtesy of Kool Herc/ Instagram

The United States Senate made history by passing a resolution on Thursday (July 29), recognizing August 11 as national “Hip Hop Celebration Day” in the United States.

By unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 331, a bill to celebrate hip-hop nationally, which also recognizes August as “Hip Hop Recognition Month” and November as “Hip Hop History Month.”

The bill was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and co-sponsored by California Senator Alex Padilla and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy.

This marks the first time hip-hop has been officially recognized by the Senate. However, rappers have long been recognized by the Senate.

In fact, during Kanye West’s Donda listening party inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he was presented with a special plaque announcing that July 22 would forever be known as Kanye West Day in the city of Atlanta.

The text within the bill includes the factual story of how the genre was birthed.

America’s most popular music genre turns 48 this year.

August 11, 1973 marks the day DJ Kool Herc (Clive Campbell) and his sister Cindy Campbell hosted a back-to-school party in Bronx, New York. It was this party that many historians believe helped birth the genre and its culture. Herc is also credited for inventing “the break,” a technique where he utilized two turntables to extend a song’s instrumental.

Next month, New York City will host week-long outdoor events called “It’s Time for Hip Hop in NYC” in The Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. The free concerts will feature hundreds of rapper performances from KRS-One, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Big Daddy Kane, Mobb Deep, Papoose, Maino, Too $hort, EPMD and more.

Aziah Kamari

Aziah Kamari Pless is a writer and content creator with 5+ years of experience in freelance writer, editor and PR roles. A graduate of Florida State University, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English: Editing, Writing and Media. She incorporates her interests in music, fashion, media and entertainment to create versatile and compelling content.