On September 20, the major retrospective opens at Fotografiska Berlin. The photo exhibition «Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious» spans fifty years of hip hop history, from its roots in the Bronx during the 1970s to the most impactful genre of our time.
The exhibition goes much further than just a chronological account. The curators (Sacha Jenkins and Sally Berman) aimed to present hip hop as a comprehensive phenomenon that has influenced the music industry, fashion, and, more broadly, the entire pop culture. After the DJ Kool Herc’s party in the Bronx on the 11th of August 1973 hip hop expanded all over.Rappers from the West and East Coast and from the South brought something unique to offer. The genre united people, providing a platform for free expression, marginalized voices, and catalyzed social and political change by confronting oppression.
The main figures of the hip hop scene, such as the Beastie Boys, Tupac Shakur, Erykah Badu and Kendrick Lamar, appear in the photographs of the renowned artists. Martha Cooper, Jonathan Mannion, and Janette Beckman have witnessed and continue to witness an ever-evolving and vibrant movement. Iconic and less-known moments unfold in 200 striking photographs.
First shown at Fotografiska New York, «Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious» now expands with the exclusive chapter «Hip Hop in Deutschland» curated by Yolandé Gouws, Davide Bortot, Miriam Davoudvandi, and Ron Schindler (aka DJ Ron). It explores the influence of hip hop in the context of German culture and politics, from its beginnings in the 1980s to the present day.
The exhibition starts with an opening party on On Friday, 20 Sep 2024, 19:30 – 03:00. Freestyle rap battles, scratch battles featuring Germany’s top DMC finalists and champions, DJs and music by emerging and established artists, — this night will celebrate the power of hip hop. And multiple live performances honour women’s contributions to the scene. The complete line-up could be found here.
To make this retrospective possible, Fotografiska, the contemporary museum of photography, art, and culture, joined forces with an entertainment company Mass Appeal. Since 1996, they have documented the emerging movements that influence popular ideas. Today, Mass Appeal is the elevated voice of Hip Hop and its ever-expanding sphere of influence.
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