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Kool Herc, Marley Marl to Participate In Monthlong Hip-Hop Festival

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | April 25, 2014 6:50am
 Queens Library is hosting "31 Days of Non-Stop Hip Hop" this May.
31 Days of Non-Stop Hip Hop at Queens Library
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QUEENS — No Sleep till... Queens.

Hip-hop legends, including DJ Kool Herc, Marley Marl, considered one of the most influential producers in the genre, and Zulu Nation, a hip-hop awareness group, will star during a monthlong Queens Library project dubbed “31 Days of Non-Stop Hip Hop.”

As part the series, which includes a different hip-hop event every day, Queens locals will get to meet the music pioneers, learn about hip-hop history and study break dancing moves.

But they will also get to share their memories and hip-hop memorabilia with the library, which is launching the Hip-Hop Elements project, an attempt to create a hip-hop archive documenting its history in the borough, the library said.

“We want to capture and archive the heritage of hip-hop for future generations as part of the history of music and our collective culture,” said Joanne King, a spokeswoman for the library.

During some of the events, the organizers will ask Queens residents to share their photos, newspaper clips and other memorabilia, which will become part of the archive.

The hip-hop marathon will kick off on May 1, when Kool Herc and Marley Marl will appear during a "History of Hip Hop" event at the Teen Center in Jamaica.

Zulu Nation will jam with families on May 3 at the Langston Hughes branch in Corona and then on May 17 at the Arverne branch.

Marc John Jefferies, who portrayed rapper Lil' Cease in the 2009 movie Notorious, will participate in an event "Who’s the Best MC" at the Langston Hughes branch on May 5, and Keith Perrin, the founder of clothing company FUBU, will talk about teen fashion entrepreneurs on May 6 and May 7 at the Far Rockaway branch.

Radio host Steph Lova and DJ G-Money will participate in "Battle of the DJs" on May 9 in Far Rockaway, while “Uncle” Ralph McDaniels, of Video Music Box fame, will talk about the entertainment industry and history of hip-hop on May 30 in Far Rockaway and on May 31 in Corona.

As part of the series, participants will also get to learn some basic break dance moves during a workshop on May 16, and will take part in a graffiti art workshop on May 28, both held at the Langston Hughes branch.

All events are free and open to the public, with the exception of the May 1 event, which is open to teens only and a free ticket is required to attend. To check the schedule of events, go here.