Local Rappers, DJs,B-Boys and Graff: Documenting the Massachusetts Hip-Hop Community from the 1970's to the Present
FAIN: PY-258672-18
University of Massachusetts, Boston (Boston, MA 02125-3300)
Carolyn Goldstein (Project Director: June 2017 to March 2021)
A digitization event held at the Boston Public Library’s central branch in Copley Square at which staff from University Archives and Special Collections of the University of Massachusetts Boston would invite members of the community to share materials related to the city’s hip-hop culture: demo tapes, performance videos, flyers, posters, photographs, clothing, and accessories. Items would be digitized for the participants’ personal use and, with their permission, possibly included in the Massachusetts Hip-Hop Archive, which is housed on UMass Boston’s Open Archives. The resulting digital collections would be harvested by the Digital Commonwealth and the Digital Public Library of America, making these materials and the participants’ stories discoverable to a wide-reaching audience. Boston Public Library would also present a series of four public programs celebrating and exploring elements of hip-hop culture: rapping (MCing), DJing (turntabling), breakdancing (b-boying), and graffiti art (graff). The events would include demonstrations by local artists, invite public participation, and be guided by two scholars of hip-hop music and culture, Dasan Ahanu from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Michael Jeffries from Wellesley College.
The University Archives and Special Collections (UASC) in the Joseph P. Healey Library at the University of Massachusetts Boston requests a Common Heritage Grant in the amount of $11,919. This grant will allow UASC to collaborate with the Boston Public Library (BPL), the Boston hip-hop community, and noted scholars Dasan Ahanu and Michael Jeffries to accomplish two goals: host a digitizing day to collect artifacts and stories that will be uploaded to the Massachusetts Hip-Hop Archive; and present four public outreach programs showcasing the four original elements of hip-hop culture: rap, DJing, dance, and graffiti art, contextualizing the materials collected at the digitization event. Community members who participated in the development of hip-hop culture in Massachusetts will contribute artifacts to the event and serve as audience and participants in the public programs, thereby documenting, preserving, and celebrating cultural memory from a marginalized part of the state’s history.
Associated Products
Cutz, Beatz, and Blendz: Beat makers, producers, and DJs! (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: Cutz, Beatz, and Blendz: Beat makers, producers, and DJs!
Abstract: In this program, Dane "DanejaZone" Bradley and fellow DJs demonstrated the art of DJing and making beats. Humanities scholar Michael Jeffries, Associate Professor, Wellesley College presented a short talk about the early days of record spinning. Participants wore headphones allowing them to switch to different channels and hear everything going on at the individual DJ stations. They further had opportunities to explore the Digital Maker Lab and learn how to use the music software in the Teen Central room.
Author: Gianna Gifford
Author: Dane Bradley
Date: 11/10/2018
Location: Boston Public Library (Central Branch), Copley Square
I EMCEE What You Did There (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: I EMCEE What You Did There
Abstract: This free, community performance in a prominent venue provided local hip-hop artists with a platform to build their network and share the art of an EMCEE with city residents. It honored the artistry of an EMCEE & exhibited the talent in the city of Boston. The 3-hour event featured an original, live Hip Hop Jeopardy game hosted by Courtney Boston along with music by DJ Drew plus performances by RED SHAYDEZ, MARK MERREN, FIRST LADY SARITA, SANDRO CASTRO, BYTC & THE HANGAZ. In addition, there was a male and female cypher, vendors, giveaways plus more. This was the first hip-hop event ever held in the courtyard of the Boston Public Library (Central Branch) in Copley Square.
Author: emily todd
Date: 09/15/2018
Location: Boston Public Library Central Branch Copley Square
Primary URL:
http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/2018/09/12/i-emcee-what-you-did-there-join-the-massachusetts-hip-hop-archive-for-a-free-event-this-saturday/Primary URL Description: Blogpost featuring event flyer on Open Archives News, the blog for University Archives & Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston.
"Show 'Em Whatcha Got" Mass. Memories Road Show: The Hip-Hop Edition collection (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)Title: "Show 'Em Whatcha Got" Mass. Memories Road Show: The Hip-Hop Edition collection
Author: University Archives & Special Collections, Joseph P. Healey Library
Abstract: The collection of 338 items is a series in the Mass. Memories Road Show (MMRS) collection. MMRS is a statewide, event-based participatory archiving program that documents people, places, and events in Massachusetts history through family photographs and stories. Archivists and public historians at the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston collaborate with local planning teams and volunteers to organize free public events where individuals bring photographs to be copied and included in a digital archive. Contributors are invited to describe the photographs in their own words. In addition, they may choose to share “the story behind the photos” on video, have their own “keepsake photo” taken, receive advice from professional archivists and historians on caring for their family photos, and learn from one another about the history of their community.
The "Show 'Em Whatcha Got" Mass. Memories Road Show: The Hip-Hop Edition collection includes nearly 300 images features informal snapshots and promotional publicity photographs documenting the experiences of artists and producers involved in the four elements of hip-hop–rap, DJs, dance, and graffiti–in the Boston community from the 1980s to the present. Forty-two video interviews with members of Boston's hip-hop community are also featured in the collection.
Year: 2018
Primary URL:
https://openarchives.umb.edu/digital/collection/p15774coll6/search/searchterm/Mass.%20Memories%20Road%20Show%3A%20The%20Hip-Hop%20Edition/mode/exact/Primary URL Description: The Mass. Memories Road Show collection is available as part of the digital collections of University Archives and Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston and is located at openarchives.umb.edu.
The collection is also available via the Digital Commonwealth, located at digitalcommonwealth.org.
Secondary URL:
http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/2018/10/09/show-em-whatcha-got-mass-memories-road-show-the-hip-hop-edition-materials-online-now/Secondary URL Description: This blogpost from Open Archives News provides a descriptive overview of the collection of images. An additional blogpost at http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/2019/01/02/videos-from-show-em-whatcha-got-mass-memories-road-show-available-online-now/ highlights the video interviews that were processed separately.
Access Model: open access
The Element of Graffiti in Hip-Hop Culture panel discussion (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: The Element of Graffiti in Hip-Hop Culture panel discussion
Abstract: Boston-based artists Rob Stull, Problak (Rob Gibbs) and Fabian Murray participated in a panel discussion and led a dialogue on the element of Graffiti Art in Hip-Hop Culture. Collectively, these gentlemen represent over 100 years of artistic expertise. They shared their stories and individual experiences of maneuvering through the intricate world of professional art. An art demonstration took place following the discussion featured in this free, family-friendly event.
Author: Gianna Gifford
Date: 06/15/2019
Location: Boston Public Library, Grove Hall Branch, Dorchester
Primary URL:
http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/2019/06/04/join-us-on-saturday-june-15-for-discussion-of-graffiti-art-in-hip-hop-culture-at-grove-hall-branch-of-the-bpl/Primary URL Description: Blogpost and event flyer, Open Archives News, the blog for University Archives and Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston.
BPL Hip-Hop Dance Jam (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: BPL Hip-Hop Dance Jam
Abstract: This hip-hop showcase featured performances by dance pioneers who convened community members to teach, learn, expand, and elevate this element of hip-hop culture. Hosted by Dash Boogy with music by DJ Flyte, the event included a dance battle between Aaron Da Locker, BGirl Supreme, and Poppin Pyro also served as judges in a dance battle among the participants! All levels of dancers were welcome, and a $400 prize was given to the best dancer! Humanities scholar Dasan Ahanu, from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was on hand to speak informally with participants and answer questions.
Author: Ginna Gifford
Author: Emily Todd
Date: 05/25/2019
Location: Boston Public Library, Codman Square Branch, Dorchester
Primary URL:
http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/2019/05/16/join-us-on-saturday-may-25-for-a-hip-hop-dance-jam-at-the-codman-square-branch-of-the-bpl/Primary URL Description: Blogpost featuring event flyer, Open Archives News, blog for University Archives & Special Collections in the Joseph P. Library at UMass Boston.
"Show 'Em Whatcha Got" Mass. Memories Road Show: The Hip Hop Edition (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: "Show 'Em Whatcha Got" Mass. Memories Road Show: The Hip Hop Edition
Abstract: This digitizing day was produced as part of the Mass. Memories Road Show is a statewide, event-based participatory archiving program that documents people, places, and events in Massachusetts history through family photographs and stories. Archivists and public historians at the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston collaborate with local planning teams and volunteers to organize free, public events where individuals bring photographs to be copied and included in a digital archive. Contributors are invited to describe the photographs in their own words. In addition, they may choose to share “the story behind the photos” on video, have their own “keepsake photo” taken, receive advice from professional archivists and historians on caring for their family photos, and learn from one another about the history of their community.
At this event, anyone connected to hip-hop in Massachusetts was invited to bring photographs, clothing, and other items that are important to them. Clothing and three-dimensional objects were photographed; audio and audiovisual materials were inventoried and arrangements were made to copy them after the event.
In addition, visitors participated in hip-hop trivia sessions and view a video program featuring documentary films about Boston hip-hop.
Author: University Archives and Special Collections, Joseph P. Healey Library, UMass Boston
Date: 05/19/2018
Location: Boston Public Library, Central Branch, Copley Square
Primary URL:
http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/2018/05/14/show-em-whatcha-got-mass-memories-road-show-the-hip-hop-edition-travels-to-the-boston-public-library-this-saturday/Primary URL Description: Blogpost and event flyer posted prior to the event, Open Archives News, blog of University Archives and Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston.
Secondary URL:
http://blogs.umb.edu/archives/2018/05/24/collecting-and-preserving-hip-hop-history-in-university-archives-special-collections-at-umass-boston/Secondary URL Description: Blogpost and event flyer posted after the event, Open Archives News, blog of University Archives and Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston.