The Washington, D.C. based National Hip-Hop Museum hosted a Grand Induction Ceremony in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the iconic Hip-Hop film Wild Style on Sunday (6/11). The event, held at the 5 Points Toy Festival in Brooklyn, honored the film's director Charlie Ahearn and cast members Fab 5 Freddy, Busy Bee, Patti Astor, Double Trouble, The Cold Crush Brothers, Crazy Legs, Grandwizzard Theodore and The Fantastic 5. The ceremony included a podcast with the cast members hosted by Rock The Bells' JayQuan who also serves as the museum's historian.

During the one-hour podcast, Charlie Ahearn explained the genesis of the film. "There was no script for Wild Style," he explained. "I wasn't a director with a script. I never wrote a script, I worked with talent on their individual scenes. Everything done for Wild Style was done without permission. The beauty of the film is that we can all look back at a specific thing that was created by the people that created the culture and see people in their natural environment in The Bronx."

A central theme in Wild Style is the rivalry between the Fantastic 5 and The Cold Crush Brothers, both of whom were honored at the event. All members were present, with the exception of JDL of The Cold Crush Brothers. "JDL wasn't able to make it today, but he will be with us at the Rock The Bells Festival," said Cold Crush frontman Grandmaster Caz of Rock The Bells Radio.

Patti Astor, co-founder of The Fun Gallery who portrayed journalist Virginia in Wild Style, gave an emotional acceptance speech where she revealed that she had never received an award until that moment. The Fantastic 5 broke into an impromptu rendition of their "Hello Everybody" routine and group member Master Rob revealed to the crowd that he is the voice behind the popular "Puerto Rico" chant that has been sampled on many Hip-Hop records.

"Me and my brother Kevy Kev are some of the most sampled voices in Hip-Hop," he explained. I was the one who said "Puerto Rico" and Kev is the voice behind the phrase "Turn it up" [most famously sampled on Public Enemy's 'Bring The Noise']."

DJs Tony Tone of The Cold Crush Brothers, Kevy Kev Rockwell and Grandwizzard Theodore of The Fantastic 5, Mell Starr and the museum's musical director DJ RBI spun breakbeats throughout the event. The museum's chief fabricator, Davino Espazino, created a cake in the shape of a spray paint can live, while artist Kevin "Scene" Lewis painted a portrait of Crazy Legs.

The Wild Style 40th Anniversary celebration had the vibe of a Hip-Hop family reunion, and the genuine love and camaraderie between the cast members was evident to all in attendance.