Kamlager-Dove Remarks at Press Conference Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 13, 2023
Media Contact: Maya Valentine | maya.valentine@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) spoke at a press conference with Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02), Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), music industry representatives, and Sekyiwa ‘Set’ Shakur and Ray ‘Luv’ Tyson from the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop and highlight her resolution honoring its golden anniversary. Below is a transcript of her remarks as delivered.
Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove at press conference celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop
“Well good morning, everyone.
Thank you for coming out in this humidity.
I am so glad to be with you all today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop!
This summer, I introduced a resolution that recognizes the impact Hip-Hop has had on our communities and urges local governments to find partnership opportunities with the Hip-Hop industry.
This is about education. This is about a celebration of culture, and this is about the continuation of a movement.
I wanna thank those who’ve signed onto this valuable legislation and those joining me here today, Representatives Robin Kelly, Nikema Williams, and Cori Bush, as we commemorate this golden anniversary.
I also wanna give a shout out to all of the organizations who have been so supportive of this resolution.
Thank you to Pandora, Feed Media Group, Spotify, DiMA, the Recording Industry Association of America, Recording Academy®, Amazon Music, Center for Hip-Hop Advocacy, Hip Hop Caucus, and [Hip-Politics], who are actively working to promote the work of Black artists and rising Hip-Hop stars.
Today we recognize Hip-Hop, but we are also here to mark nearly 30 years since the passing of Hip-Hop West Coast legend, Tupac Shakur – hence the outfit.
I want to thank the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation for being represented here today.
You know, I’m grateful that my District hosted the ‘Wake Me When I’m Free’ exhibition. I had the opportunity to experience it along with my staff and hundreds of thousands of other Angelenos.
Thank you to President Sekyiwa Shakur and Ray ‘Luv’ Tyson, who flew out all the way from Los Angeles and who have been so critical across California, advocating for the healing impacts of music on our children and families.
You know, I grew up in New York when Hip-Hop was fresh and new.
I grew up listening to Big Daddy Kane and Roxanne Shanté.
I consider myself a child of Hip-Hop, which is why it is so great to be able to have authored this resolution.
You know, in the beginning, Hip-Hop was dismissed for being birthed by those who were deemed unsophisticated and unintelligent.
It was blasted for being too raw and too Black.
And then it was threatened with silence by the government for being too extreme.
And look at us now, standing right outside the United States Capitol honoring this movement that has withstood all of these attacks and has essentially grown mainstream, contributing billions of dollars into economies across this globe.
It’s also very important that we celebrate arts more than ever before because we are in a moment where Republicans are denying American history, Black history, where extremists are trying to silence Black judges, Black legislators, Black athletes, Black students, Black advocates, Black voices, Black history.
And this is about standing in resistance to all of that.
That’s what Hip-Hop is all about.
Teaching truth, being resilient, moving, celebrating, using rhythm, rhyme, beats, to heal, to educate, to stimulate, and to move forward.
So, I want to, with that, bring Representative Robin Kelly up to say a few words and to make some introductions.”
# # #