Library to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Hip-Hop

In recognition of the 40^th anniversary of Hip-Hop, Tompkins County Public Library-- in partnership with Cornell University Library’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections and an impressive assortment of community groups-- will present “Hip-Hop:  Unbound from the Underground—An Ithaca Community Celebration of Hip-Hop Culture,” April 4 through 7.

A four-day celebration of all things Hip-Hop, Unbound from the Underground will feature events on campus and throughout the community, including:  exhibit openings, panel discussions, film screenings, concerts and three days of live, mural painting by some of the world’s most acclaimed and recognizable graffiti artists.

TCPL will launch its participation April 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. with the Downtown Ithaca Gallery Night opening of “Top 2 Bottom—A Journey Through the Elements of Hip-Hop Culture.  Curated by Jason Otero of Ithaca’s Art and Anthropology, this multi-media exhibit features the work of legendary Hip-Hop photographers Joe Conzo and Ernie Paniccioli, a new collection by Ithacan Jay Stooks, a showcase of early Hip-Hop memorabilia—house party flyers, boom boxes, mix-tapes, fashion and graffiti—materials from the collection of Cap Matches Color and work created by local students.

With support from the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, exhibit opening participants will also have a rare opportunity to hear from Conzo and Panicciolo, as they join moderator Dr. Sean Eversley Bradwell, assistant professor, Center for the Study of Culture, Race and Ethnicity at Ithaca College, for a 6:30 p.m. panel discussion in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room.   Special audience members, will include:  Hip-Hop founder Afrika Bambaataa and pioneers Grandmaster Caz, JDL, Richard “Crazy Legs” Colón, Popmaster Fabel, Charlie Ahearn, Buddy Esquire and Mare139.

TCPL, with the generous support of Ironlak AVT Paints, will also participate in Unbound from the Underground with “Get Up State,” three days of live, mural painting.  From April 5 through April 7, graffiti artists from across the world will gather to transform the dull gray Cornell University Press Services building at 770 Cascadilla Street into a magnificent, colorful work of art.

For more information about Library events being held in conjunction with Unbound from the Underground, visit tcpl.org/events-exhibits/hip-hop/.  For a complete schedule of the weekend’s events, visit http://unboundfromtheunderground.com/schedule-of-events/.

TCPL’s participation in Unbound from the Underground has been made possible by the Tompkins County Tourism Program, New York Council for the Humanities, Community Arts Partnership of Tompkins County, Ironlak ATV Paints, Cap Matches Color, Art & Anthropology and Cornell University Library's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections.