Senate Resolution No. 1028

BY: Senator BAILEY

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
August 11, 2023, as Hip-Hop Celebration Day in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with
its time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those who
seek to preserve and celebrate the musical heritage of our State and
Nation; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim August 11, 2023, as Hip-Hop
Celebration Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Hip Hop Celebration Day; and

WHEREAS, In honor of the anniversary of the birth of Hip-Hop, on
Thursday, July 29, 2021, the United States passed a resolution which
designates a "Hip Hop Celebration Day," a "Hip-Hop Recognition Month,"
and a "Hip Hop History Month"; and

WHEREAS, August 11th was chosen as the birth of Hip-Hop due to DJ
Kool Herc's now-legendary spinning at the "Back To School Jam" in the
Bronx in 1973; and

WHEREAS, On August 11, 1973, at a Back To School Jam organized by
his sister Cindy Campbell and held at the recreation room of 1520
Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York, Clive DJ Kool Herc Campbell
introduced his innovative style of disk jockeying and, together with the
master of ceremonies engaging the crowd with rap on the microphone while
party- goers known as B-boys and B-girls danced, introduced a new style,
later known as Hip-Hop, which combined the elements of a disk jockey
(commonly known as a DJ), a master of ceremonies (commonly known as an
MC), music, art, fashion, and dance; and

WHEREAS, From its humble beginnings in New York City, the music,
lyricism, dance, fashion, and art of Hip Hop has become a culture, now
found in communities across the United States, and has long been a
worldwide phenomenon; and

WHEREAS, The art and culture of Hip-Hop is an original American
creation; the Hip-Hop genre has been reinvented often over the years
since 1973, reflecting the State, city, and region of the music, from
G-funk and Hyphy on the West Coast to Bass and Trap in the South, to
Drill in the Midwest, to many other sounds from coast to coast and from
abroad, including the New School, which continues that trend; and

WHEREAS, Hip-Hop artists and supporters, originally of African
heritage, now transcend many different ages, ethnicities, religions,
locations, political affiliations, and socioeconomic statuses, which
demonstrates the melting-pot quality of Hip-Hop art and culture; and

WHEREAS, Events which provide a means of preserving a part of our
rich American past and which contribute to the community in such noble

endeavors as aforementioned, are held in the highest regard by this
Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim August 11, 2023, as
Hip-Hop Celebration Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.