Hip-Hop’s Global Influence is Being Documented for an Online Museum (Video)
Hip-Hop’s far-reaching influence on the worlds of art, dance, fashion, language, and of course music has long since been considered worthy of documentation. With talks of opening the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx and the handful of nationwide efforts to digitally archive Hip-Hop’s past (including the Hiphop Archive & Research Institute at Harvard), the conversation now is shifting to the culture’s present and future.
With that in mind, three individuals have decided to ensure the preservation of Hip-Hop culture in the ever-changing digital-media environment. Together, college pals Jermaine Fletcher and Jimmie Thomas developed the groundwork for what is now called the Curators of Hip-Hop (COHH), an all-encompassing venture that – at its core – is a museum. With the help of A’sia Horne, the two men have put into motion a conceptual plan with the goal of showcasing “all aspects of the hip-hop culture from different cities, states and countries to the fingertips of every household in the world.” It is the worldwide presence of Hip-Hop that is the subject of COHH’s documentary, The Curators Vol. 1, which follows the global pursuits of four MCs hoping to make an impact (Ahmad Lewis, Matt Reeves, Prie, and Dee-1). Also captured in the film is the meteoric rise to fame that Def Jam rapper Logic has experienced.
In an article for the Huffington Post, Fletcher and Thomas shared their visions and strategies for COHH, which include building a “digital platform that functions like an online museum” and “covering broader stories and spending time in different Hip-Hop communities around the world to gain an understanding of what makes each place unique.” “Hip-Hop is one of the most powerful movements in the world,” says Fletcher. “It’s important for the people who care about the culture to always keep note of this and take ownership of its destiny. I believe that because the culture is growing at such a fast rate, it’s vulnerable to false representation.”
Check out the trailer for The Curators Vol. 1 right here. The full feature film is available for rental and purchase directly through Vimeo, as well.
Related: KRS-One Says He Cannot Make Money in America, Discusses Hip-Hop’s Global Influence (Video)