Aug. 2, 2023

Media Contact: Lisa Snedeker

Marketing & Communications, Friends of COR Museum

lsnedeker@campbell.edu

Cell: 336-453-8233

MEDIA ALERT: The Friends of the City of Raleigh (COR) Museum announces FREE symposium, “Hip Hop: Then, Now, Next,” exploring 50 years of Hip Hop celebration on Saturday, Aug. 12
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – The Friends of the City of Raleigh (COR) Museum are excited to announce a FREE symposium, “Hip Hop: Then, Now, Next,” as part of the Saturday, Aug. 12, activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the musical genre.

At 9:30 a.m. the museum will host a panel discussion with Hip Hop DJ, promoters and scholars about the genre’s Southern influences, the impact on artists today and what the next 50 years holds for the music. The panel will be moderated by radio personality from K97.5 MIR.I.AM and include panelists DJ SKILLZ and DY Nasty, Hip Hop scholar Dasan Ahanu, Eternal the Emcee from Cypher University, and Crystal Bodie Smith, activist and promoter. The free event will kick off with music and refreshments in the City of Raleigh Museum located at 220 Fayetteville St.

“The roots of Hip Hop traveled north with the Great Migration of African Americans leaving the South between 1940-1970,” explains COR Museum Executive Director Ernest Dollar. “Southern ideas, sounds and beats were melded with urban culture of northern cities into what became Hip Hop. This genre came back down south to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and along traditional music routes to inspire a new generation of musicians. Today, the music coming from North Carolina has made a major impact on the current Hip Hop scene. The City of Raleigh Museum is hosting a panel of DJs, promoters and scholars that will explore these roots and how they define the Tarheel Hip Hop performers today.”

In addition to the symposium, the cast of events, presented by the Friends in partnership with the City of Raleigh, will feature a daylong street party, classic car show, live beats honoring local hip-hop pioneers, a dance off by Raleigh Rockers, an old school vs. new school battle of the DJs plus the chance to don your best kicks and see yourself on the Jumbotron as Raleigh rolls out the red carpet for the Sneaker Ball.

The Sneaker Ball lineup set for Raleigh’s Union Station will feature Brand Nubian, Raleigh’s 3AmSound, Durham’s Terminator X, Nacynze and DJ Skillz. Other local performers set to join the festivities include Southside Heat, Exhale TAOP and a surprise guest, Bussey said.

Saturday, Aug. 12

9:30 a.m.–Noon: COR Museum showcases a symposium featuring local scholar and industry expert lectures plus roundtables on how hip-hop has shaped Raleigh culture.

Noon–4 p.m.: Roll out for the Hip-Hop Car Show featuring classic cars.

Noon–4 p.m.: Take to Fayetteville Street for a free family-friendly Hip-Hop Family Village with a DJ House, DJ for Kids class (w/ DJ Monika Underhill), break dancers & performers, a dance off, hip-hop
karaoke, graffiti public art and vendors.

6–7 p.m. : Show up and show out for the Hip Hop Sneaker Ball Red Carpet Experience at Raleigh Union Station complete with jam-packed moments for music lovers with hot performances, standout outfits and historic hip-hop reunions.

6–10pm: Kick it at Raleigh Union Station for the Hip Hop Sneaker Ball with legendary DJs, performers, photo booth, VIP area (plus booth/bottle experience), a hip-hop archive display and more. Kweilyn Murphy, a meteorologist at ABC11 WTVD, will MC. ABC11 WTVD is the event’s official media sponsor.

“I am pleased to partner with the Friends of the COR Museum to bring this event to the community,” added Dollar. “Uncovering the origins of Hip Hop, and its path to Raleigh, is important to understanding the city’s culture today. We also want to celebrate our city’s contributions to this global phenomenon.”

General Admission Ticket Prices*

$65

Members of the Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum

General Admission: $50

*Fees and taxes are not included in above pricing

To purchase tickets and learn more about the 50th Hip Hop Anniversary activities, visit the following link: https://www.cityofraleighmuseum.org/

The Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum are also looking for volunteers and additional sponsors to help cover the costs of this event, which also serves as a fundraiser for the COR Museum. There are a variety of sponsorship levels available. Please contact the Friends Co-Chair Alex McTighe for more information at alex.mctighe@gmail.com.

To volunteer for any and all events, please visit www.cormuseum.org/hiphop or email friendsorcormuseum@gmail.com.

About City of Raleigh Museum

The COR Museum was founded as the Raleigh City Museum in 1993. In 2012, the City of Raleigh took over operations of the museum and is now part of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department. Located at 220 Fayetteville St. the museum features exhibits, displays, and programs that highlight the history and culture of North Carolina’s Capital City. The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sundays 1 to 4 p.m. and can be reached at (919) 996-2220. For more information on the museum visit https://raleighnc.gov/places/city-raleigh-museum

About the Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum

For more than 200 years, North Carolina’s capital city had no repository for its historical artifacts, no place to preserve its past, and no institution to educate its citizens and visitors. That all changed in 1993 when the COR Museum (formerly Raleigh City Museum) debuted its first exhibit. The COR Museum grew out of the dream of local historian Beth Crabtree, and after her death, the vision and perseverance of Mary Cates, and countless dedicated volunteers. While the City remains in charge of the museum, it is also supported by the nonprofit Friends of the COR Museum, a working board that supports the museum by hosting fundraisers and helping spread the word about the museum’s exhibits and events.