Innovator, pioneer and influencer are all words one use when describing Q-Tip. Now the A Tribe Called Quest member is blazing one more trail as the first artist director for the inaugural hip-hop cultural series at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.
"With Hip Hop constantly changing and evolving, it is easy to forget the history and legacy that precede it," stated Q-Tip in a press release. "I want to begin at the beginning of the culture to help people see its roots, better understand its present, and responsibly create its future."
The new series looks to recognize hip-hop as a global culture and force promoting justice, freedom and service. It will focus on the five main elements of hip-hop culture - DJing, breakdancing, graffiti writing, the knowledge of self and MCing.
"We are proud and excited to be incorporating hip-hop culture into our artistic and educational programs during the 2016-2017 season," affirmed Deborah F. Rutter, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in a statement. "In our role as a national cultural institution, we feel it is vital to recognize all of the performing arts in our programming. The history of hip-hop and its development as an art form, and the complexity and importance of its impact on the arts landscape driving social and cultural awareness, has inspired us to have a more formal connection with our ongoing programming. By launching this series, we strive to spotlight these powerful traits through each program and to make them part of the Kennedy Center fabric as we look into the future."
So far there have been six announced programs over the next year. They include spoken word summits for youth to come and flex their poetic prowess, breakdancing competitions and conferences on how to better teach the aesthetic and art of hip-hop to youth in schools. Tickets and information can be found on the John F. Kennedy Center's website.
