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The Universal Hip-Hop Museum Celebrates Hip-Hop's Golden Era In Its New Exhibit

The Universal Hip-Hop Museum Celebrates Hip-Hop's Golden Era In Its New Exhibit

Published Tue, June 28, 2022 at 5:40 PM EDT

The Universal Hip Hop Museum has opened a new exhibit called "The Dapper Dan Lounge" which pays homage to Hip-Hop's golden era, which chief curator Paradise Gray of The X Clan says occurred from 1986-1990. The exhibit, which is located at 610 Exterior St. in The Bronx, is a temporary space as the museum awaits its 2024 grand opening across the street.

"This is the meat when some of the most important albums of all times were released by some of the most important artists," Gray told the Bronx Times, mentioning acts including Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Eric B & Rakim, Public Enemy, and KRS-One.

Co-curator Pete Nice of 3rd Bass agrees that the exhibit highlights a special time in Hip-Hop.

"The last exhibit that we did ran from 1980 to 1985 and we are doing five-year spans for each exhibit," he told Rock The Bells. "This 1986 to 1990 period is mine and Paradise's era as artists and I don't think that too many people would argue that this was the Hip-Hop's golden era."

quotes
"After you go through a time tunnel with a medley of hits from '86, you come out to Raising Hell by Run DMC, then we have the Troop suit from LL COOL J's 1987 Def Jam Tour, then we move right into Paid In Full."

- Pete Nice 3rd Bass, The Universal Hip Hop Museum co-curator

According to associate curator Martha Diaz, the exhibit was a labor of love for everybody involved.

"It is a community effort and this is what makes it so special," Diaz said. "The Dapper Dan lounge houses a sofa, plush seats, and a coffee table that holds ticket stubs, flyers and pins of groups like Run-DMC and Public Enemy. There is also a larger than life boombox with speakers that transform into screens, and a live D.J. Booth. The exhibit also showcases a handwritten letter from Scott La Rock that chronicles his career with KRS before they were BDP, Sweet T's original Shirt Kings sweatshirt, Biz Markie's rhyme books and more."

The exhibit opens today (June 28) and runs for the remainder of the year.

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