[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 618 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 618

    Recognizing August 11, 2023, as the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 26, 2023

Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Jeffries, Mr. Carter of 
 Louisiana, Ms. Crockett, Mr. Frost, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Kelly 
of Illinois, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Veasey, Ms. 
   Williams of Georgia, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Moskowitz, Ms. 
  Strickland, Mr. Carson, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Brown, Mr. 
  McGovern, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Ms. 
  Bush, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Gomez, and Ms. Adams) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                     on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Recognizing August 11, 2023, as the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

Whereas, on August 11, 1973, Clive ``DJ Kool Herc'' and his sister Cindy 
        Campbell threw a ``Back to School Jam'' to raise money for new school 
        clothes in the recreation room of their apartment on 1520 Sedgwick 
        Avenue in the Bronx, New York;
Whereas ``DJ Kool Herc'' introduced an innovative style of disk jockeying that 
        engaged the crowd with the master of ceremonies;
Whereas this style would later be known as ``hip-hop'' and the titles of ``disk 
        jockey'' and ``master of ceremonies'' would be abbreviated to ``DJ'' and 
        ``MC,'' respectively;
Whereas, over the past 50 years, hip-hop has become a lifestyle, woven into 
        American culture not only through music, but also fashion, art, film, 
        and dance;
Whereas hip-hop as an art form was created through Black ingenuity and is a part 
        of not only African-American culture, but American culture;
Whereas blues from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis, Tennessee, jazz from New 
        Orleans, Louisiana, gospel from Chicago, Illinois, and soul from 
        Detroit, Michigan, created the foundation that hip-hop emerged;
Whereas, since its origins, hip-hop has evolved and grown over half a century 
        because of its ability to adapt to the people and region in which it is 
        reimagined;
Whereas, in New York City, hip-hop's birthplace, east coast hip-hop has produced 
        artists such as the Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Grandmaster Flash, Run-
        D.M.C., Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and the Wu-Tang Clan;
Whereas, in the 1990s, artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Tupac, and 
        more recently Nipsey Hussle emerged in California's west coast with G-
        Funk, which originally spurred out of the Watts riots in the late 1960s;
Whereas bass and trap music originated in southern cities like Atlanta, Georgia, 
        and Memphis, Tennessee, with artists such as Project Pat, Three 6 Mafia, 
        Outkast, T.I., and Mannie Fresh;
Whereas midwestern cities like Chicago, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, have 
        produced artists such as Nelly and Common who have brought their 
        respective regional influences to the mainstream;
Whereas hip-hop's spread has mixed cultures and traditions from the slowed down 
        style of Texas artists like UGK and Scarface, to the rhythmic beats of 
        Miami, Florida, bass made popular by 2 Live Crew, to the Latin influence 
        and energy of artists like Pitbull and Bad Bunny;
Whereas bounce originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the 1980s, and has 
        elevated thanks to artists such as Juvenile, Magnolia Shorty, and Big 
        Freedia who is recognized as the ``Queen of Bounce'' and has helped to 
        elevate the subgenre to the national stage thanks to collaborations with 
        Beyonce and other mainstream artists like Rihanna incorporating the fast 
        tempo sound into their work;
Whereas new school hip-hop continues to dominate the music industry selling out 
        concert venues and stadiums with artists like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, 
        Megan Thee Stallion, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Drake, 
        Lil Nas X, GloRilla, and Ice Spice;
Whereas artists like MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, Lisa ``Left 
        Eye'' Lopes, Salt-N-Pepa, Lauryn Hill, and Missy Elliot pioneered female 
        rap, moving hip-hop away from being a male-dominated genre;
Whereas music producers such as Jermaine Dupri, J. Dilla, DJ Khaled, and Tay 
        Keith have transcended hip-hop with their own styles of creativity, 
        instrumentation, and deep musical knowledge;
Whereas film directors and producers like John Singleton, Spike Lee, Rick 
        Famuyiwa, and Yvette Lee Bowser have brought hip-hop and Black culture 
        to the big screen with hit movies and TV shows like Poetic Justice, Boyz 
        n the Hood, School Daze, Brown Sugar, and A Different World;
Whereas hip-hop has always been about telling a story, whether it be a story of 
        pain and struggle, love and romance, religion, or politics;
Whereas hip-hop has always been a creative mouthpiece for all people to share 
        their own individual realities;
Whereas hip-hop has provided outlets for people all over the world to include 
        extracurricular activities, youth counseling, analytical thinking, 
        entertainment, employment;
Whereas hip-hop has had an immense economic impact, and, as an industry, 
        generates more than a billion dollars annually, further creating 
        opportunities for economic mobility and wealth creation for Black people 
        in the United States;
Whereas hip hop has evolved as a platform to advocate for social, political, and 
        economic needs of all people, including environmental justice, 
        education, healthcare, and voting rights; and
Whereas, on August 11, 2023, the Federal Government, States, cities, and towns 
        will observe the 50th anniversary of hip-hop: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the contribution of hip-hop to American art 
        and culture;
            (2) recognizes the 50th anniversary of hip-hop;
            (3) encourages Members of the House of Representatives to 
        plan activities and support the recognition of the 50th 
        anniversary of hip-hop; and
            (4) encourages local governments in the United States to 
        build partnerships with local hip-hop entities and other 
        members of creative arts to expand the true essence of hip-hop 
        culture.
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