Many in the industry have taken issue to a purported cultural bias toward rock music, pop, folk, or whatever isn't hip-hop. However, as classics like Good Kid, m.A.A.d City continue to wow critics and fans alike, the artistic merit of the genre no longer seems to be in question. Thus, the hip-hop community seems to have found a way to circumvent what they see as a broken system. Why is Public Enemy inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hal of Fame in Cleveland? Why not honor the purely American art form that has completely transformed our cultural awareness and tastes? Harlem seems to have a fitting answer to these questions, announcing the arrival of the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame and Museum on 125th Street later in the year.
According to HipHopDX, the Hall of Fame and museum will feature "retail gift shop, restaurant, sports bar, concert lounge, TV studios, offices and house the Hip-Hop Arts and Media Academy." The Hip-Hop Hall of Fame is slated to open later this year, and will focus on education as a cornerstone of its mission. All updates regarding the progress and development of the Hall of Fame can be found here.
According to Dove entertainment, the organization in charge of press and coordinating the venture, "Students will be trained by industry professionals with special celebrity guest speakers, and graduate with their very own online e-commerce store teaching valuable skills, entrepreneurship, job creation and business management. All classes will include a 'Life-Skills Module' teaching young people about personal development, family and professional values and etiquette, college prep, career prep, financial literacy, home-ownership and entrepreneurship. Classes will range from 6-10 weeks and be in-conjunction with our Harlem Business, Community, Arts, Cultural, Media, and Educational Program Partners."
