Hip Hop Hall of Fame facts for kids
The Hip Hop Hall of Fame, also known as the Hip Hop Hall of Fame + Museum, is a special non-profit organization. It is based in New York City and focuses on the amazing world of hip hop music and culture. This includes everything from its beginnings to its global reach today.
History of the Hall of Fame
The Hip Hop Hall of Fame was started in 1992 by James 'JT' Thompson. He grew up in New York City and loved hip hop. The Hall of Fame was officially launched in 1995 in Harlem, New York. At this event, plans were shared for a museum and educational programs. There was also a deal with BET Cable Network for the first Hip Hop Hall of Fame Awards TV Show.
The idea was for the Hip Hop Hall of Fame Museum to be funded by its TV awards shows. This was similar to how the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame works. However, after some of the shows aired, there were difficult times in the music industry. This caused the Hip Hop Hall of Fame + Museum to lose advertisers and sponsors. Because of this, the awards show could not return to TV for a while. This put the museum building plans on hold. The Hip Hop Hall of Fame also tried to re-launch in Los Angeles in 1997. Many famous artists like Kurtis Blow and Grandmaster Caz were there. But the awards still did not return to television until 2014.
Who Gets Inducted?
The Hip Hop Hall of Fame has held induction ceremonies. These happened in the 1990s on BET. In 2014, a ceremony was held in New York City. It was hosted by hip hop star Roxanne Shante and shown on the Soul of the South TV network. The Hip Hop Hall of Fame now holds its yearly induction ceremony every November. This is during Hip Hop History Month in New York City.
Artists and people who have helped hip hop culture can be inducted. They can be considered 20 years after their first record was released. Other people are chosen based on their importance and impact on hip hop. This includes:
- MCs (rappers)
- DJs
- Graffiti artists
- B-Boys and B-Girls (dancers)
- Music executives and producers
- Record labels
- Fashion designers
- Business leaders
- Scholars
- Community leaders
The Museum Plans
As of August 2025, the main offices for the Hall of Fame are in Harlem, New York City. However, there is no physical museum building open yet. The plans for its community space include showing hip hop art, music, and digital videos. It will also have dance areas and space for community events. These events will help with educational programs with partner groups.
The original plan for the Hip Hop Hall of Fame + Museum was a big project. It was going to be a 20-story building on 125th Street. This complex would include the Hall of Fame itself, a gift shop, and an arcade. It would also have TV broadcast studios, a sports bar, a restaurant, and a concert venue. The goal was to host over 100 events each year.
The Hip Hop Hall of Fame also plans to have educational programs. This includes a youth arts and media training academy. It aims to welcome over 25,000 New York City public school kids each year for field trips and programs. The first part of this complex was planned for 2018, but it did not happen. It is not yet clear where the museum will be located if it opens, whether in midtown or Harlem.
See also
- List of music museums
