Vice President Kamala Harris to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop at the Naval Observatory

On Saturday (Sept. 9), Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris will have Common, Jeezy, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shante and more to celebrate at her home as a part of a Hip-Hop 50 celebration, honoring the genre and its impact on American culture. 

Harris, along with The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Live Nation, will highlight the importance of the genre by holding a commemoration with more than 400 guests in attendance at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. Serving as the first event of its kind, this hip-hop event will look to reinforce the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to celebrating the arts.

“The Recording Academy and the Black Music Collective have had a tremendous year paying tribute to and honoring the legacy of hip-hop in its milestone 50th year,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, in a statement. “Taking the celebration to our nation’s capital alongside Vice President Harris is truly something special and I look forward to a historic day.” 

The White House paid homage to hip-hop during its Juneteenth event in June, where Method Man spoke at the inaugural concert. “This concert is a fitting way to recognize Juneteenth and express this part of our shared American history,” he said at the time. “For it is through music that African-Americans found community and sought solace. Music has the power to uplift us, to enrich our minds and nourish our souls.”

He added: “From spirituals to gospel, R&B, jazz, rock, soul, and yes y’all, 50 years of Hip Hop, ya heard?! Each generation of Black musicians, artists and thought leaders have channeled the struggles of their lifetime into the American soundtrack.”