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23rd Annual American Music Awards

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It’s so funny to look back in retrospect and realize just how many people thought that hip hop would be just a passing fad that would never last. Yet here we are 40 years later, and hip hop is not only the biggest-selling musical genre of all, but now there is a 20-story museum set to open to honor its legacy.

Classic hip hop is bigger than ever these days, from film adaptations and commercials, to millennials embracing an era that they might not remember. It’s bigger than the music— about the culture.

Power 105.1's Powerhouse 2005: Operation Takeover

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As reported by the Huffington Post, the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame is in the early stages of bringing a massive, state-of-the-art facility to Harlem to outline the legacy of hip hop for admirers from around the world to enjoy. According to a press release, JT Thompson reveals more details: “Phase one, which is set to begin in February 2018, of the museum’s development plan will include, among other things, a multimedia film production studio and a television content production center for students “that will be training for careers in tech and media, while producing real-life content for the museum, and the hip hop television channel network.”

If that wasn’t enough to get hip hop fans excited to check out the future historical landmark, there are also plans to include a 5-star hotel, retail mall, arcade, restaurant and concert lounge inside the 20-story development. There has also been a $150 million fundraising campaign launched to help complete the museum’s funding.

Speaking about the museum as a personal passion project, Thompson said, “Hip hop is about empowering yourself, moving beyond the music. The HHHOF and I have a duty and responsibility to preserve this rich history of music and culture. [You need to] pull yourself up by your bootstraps to pursue your dreams. This has been a labor of love. It’s had its valleys, mountains, peaks and falloffs.”