WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday hosted a celebration of with appearances by some of the music genre's pioneers and stars.
Common, Jeezy, MC Lyte and Roxanne Shante were among the hip-hop artists invited to join Harris for the party at the vice presidential residence.
Hip-hop's 50th birthday has inspired a host of anniversary events this year. Many trace the genre's creation to an Aug. 11, 1973, back-to-school party where 18-year-old Clive Campbell, also known as DJ Kool Herc, deejayed at a Bronx apartment building
Harris said hip-hop is 鈥渢he ultimate American art form鈥� that 鈥渟hapes every aspect of America鈥檚 popular culture.鈥�
鈥淗ip-hop culture is American culture,鈥� she told the crowd.
Hip-hop has , becoming one of the world鈥檚 most influential cultural forces, an and a built on generations of rapping, emceeing, deejaying, breaking and graffiti.
Harris noted that Public Enemy rapper Chuck D has described rap as 鈥淏lack America鈥檚 CNN.鈥�
鈥淚t has always channeled the voices of the people. It tells the stories that don鈥檛 make the news,鈥� she said before joining her husband, Doug Emhoff, to watch musicians鈥� performances.
Saturday's celebration was a collaboration with Recording Academy鈥檚 Black Music Collective and Live Nation Urban.
鈥淭his is a hip-hop household!鈥� Emhoff said.
The Associated Press
