50 Years of Hip Hop: Art, Music, Power

Celebrate Black History Month with a journey through 50 years of the art, music, and power of hip hop. Join us for engaging activities suitable for all ages that honor the legacy of hip hop music and culture and highlight the hip hop influences in the Museum’s exhibition Amplified: Art, Music, Power. 

“Hip Hop is a means for seeing, celebrating, experiencing, understanding, confronting, and commenting on life and the world around us… Hip hop is a musical genre that really taps into what people go through mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. It is protest music born from the ground roots.” 

– James Terrell  |  Amplified: Art, Music, Power artist 

Register Here

11 am – 11:45 am Hip Hop Dance Workshop with Rhonda Moore

Listen to the hip hop beat and find your groove in a dance workshop led by teaching artist Rhonda Moore, in partnership with nonprofit Dancing Classrooms Philly, an affiliate of Musicopia.

12 pm – 1:30 pm Rap, Paper, Scissors: A Hip Hop Zine Workshop by Zindzine

Join Zindzi Harley, Founder and Curator of Zindzine, for a hands-on zine making experience exploring the dynamic history of hip hop. Participants will delve into iconic moments, influential artists, and the cultural impact of this genre. Through collage, storytelling, and artistic expression, attendees will create personalized zines reflecting their connection to hip hop’s evolution over the past five decades. This workshop celebrates the intersection of art, culture, and self-expression, inviting all to contribute their unique voice to the ongoing narrative of hip hop.  

2 pm – 3 pm A History of Hip Hop Sampling with John Morrison and Josh Leidy

Delve deep into the history of sampling with Writer/Podcast duo, John Morrison and Josh Leidy. This fun and informal conversation will explore the history of sampling and its role in the evolution of modern music. Morrison and Leidy will host a thought-provoking presentation complete with music and enlightening history. 

Meet the Artists & Partners

Zindzi Harley is a curator and creative consultant who focuses on the histories and narratives of the African Diaspora in contemporary art, material culture, fashion, and design. She is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Zindzine, a quarterly publication that features diverse and innovative artists, creatives, and businesses from Philadelphia. She formerly served as Assistant Curator at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, where she facilitated and curated exhibitions and programs that expanded the interpretation and representation of Black culture. Additionally, she has collaborated with various Philadelphia organizations and historic sites, such as Ars Nova Workshop and Past Present Projects, to develop and deliver community-based initiatives. She is passionate about creating and supporting platforms that amplify the voices and center storytelling of marginalized and underrepresented communities. 

Josh Leidy is a writer, podcaster and filmmaker from Philadelphia. Leidy currently works as an independent journalist with WXPN and his celebrated 2021 essay, Copaganda explores the impact that media has on policing and the Criminal Justice system.

John Morrison is a writer, DJ and producer from Philadelphia. His work has appeared in the New York Times, NPR Music and Tidal. Morrison is currently working on a book about the history of hip-hop culture in Philadelphia. 

Rhonda Moore is a Dancing Classrooms Philly teaching artist, sound and movement performance artist, educator and community-based dance enthusiast. Her talents have led to collaborations with acclaimed dance artists such as Jamie Cunningham’s ACME Dance Company, Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane Dance Company, Brigid Baker, Sylvain Émard, Boris Charmatz, and Nichole Canuso. Collaborations with music artists include Max Roach, Luigi Bonafede, Rocky Roberts, Carlo Ceriani, Michael Jackson, and Philadelphia’s own Tierra Whack.