New York City Council has allocated almost $1.5 million and has officially announced that the first hip-hop museum in history is to be inaugurated in Bronx in late 2008, or early 2009. Although the project is rapidly evolving, it is already surrounded by many political controversies.
The aim of the museum is to bring honor to one of the two original American music genres. But the problem the authorities are currently confronted with is whether gangsta rap should be included in it or not. And the response, coming from council member Larry Seabrook, is unequivocal:
'We're not talking about gangsta rap. We're talking about hip-hop. Anybody can be a thug', Seabrook said in reference to artists like 50 Cent, Tupac, Lil' Kim and The Game. They are not to be included in the museum, because their music is seen as a clear departure from the original '70s hip-hop, with lyrics that promote misogyny and violence.
Instead, those whose names are going to be mentioned are the pioneers Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herk and Afrika Bambaataa. They are the very same persons who are presently involved in the development of the museum but they have been chosen as representatives of the hip-hop genre for one simple reason, as a senior music editor states:
'I think this museum is a good opportunity to venerate these guys. They didn't get the million-dollar windfall and the big endorsements that these stars get today. For those guys, it's been tough'. Nevertheless, council member Seabrook does admit that gangsta rap has its positive side by saying that, while the violence contained in today's rap lyrics increases, the violence rate on the streets has been constantly decreasing.
Meanwhile, the content of the future museum remains unsure. Will it or will it not include gangsta rap still remains an issue to be solved.
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