SC State Museum to host free event celebrating 50 years of hip-hop on Saturday

The South Carolina State Museum, in partnership with FatRat Da Czar, is hosting a free special family event that will honor and celebrate 50 years of hip-hop in South Carolina.

According to History.com, hip hop has roots in other forms, and many different artists shaped its evolution. Still, many believe that the genre came to life precisely on Aug. 11, 1973, at a birthday party in the recreation room of an apartment building in the west Bronx, New York City. The location of that birthplace was 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, and the man who presided over that historic party was the birthday girl's brother, Clive Campbell—better known to history as DJ Kool Herc, founding father of hip hop.

Hip-Hop may have been birth in New York, but according to FatRat Da Czar, South Carolina has played a role in helping to cultivate the genre that has permeated every culture around the world.

"I'm from Virginia, but my career started here as an emcee in South Carolina. FatRat Da Czar was born here, and back in those days, it was a small-knit community, but I had a chance to meet some of the people that their contributions ended up changing hip-hop forever," said Fat Rat Da Czar. "I think one of the groups that are overlooked is The Sequence; they are straight from Columbia, South Carolina, and is the first female rap group ever; don't let anybody tell you anything different. Their tune Funk You Up in 1979 charted, went gold, eventually platinum; and they were from Saxon Homes and went to CA Johnson. I mean, even when you look at an iconic album like Snoop Dogg's first album Doggy Style, the last track on that, Pump Pump, features Lil Malik from Eutawville, South Carolina. All the way up until the 2000s, even the 2020s, Jetsonmade, another Columbia product from South Carolina, went on to produce the biggest hit of 2019, DaBaby's Suge, which was nominated for a Grammy. We've just had a hand in a lot of great artists making a contribution to hip-hop culture," he said.

The 50th celebration will feature a talent lineup from South Carolina showcasing the four core elements of hip-hop; DJing, Breakdance, Graffiti art, and Rapping.

Headlining act FatRat Da Czar

Headlining act FatRat Da Czar

Visual artist Cedric Umoja

Children’s book author Kobie Da Wiz

Kids 'pep' talker Super Beauty

Breakdance crew Dancing On Air

DJ Kingpin VOV

DJ/Producer MIDIMarc

EmCee Shekeese Tha Beast

Schedule of performances:

1:00 p.m. | DJ Kingpin VOV

1:30 p.m. | Dancing on Air

2:00 p.m. | Super Beauty

2:30 p.m. | L Kobie Da Wiz

3:00 p.m. | MIDIMarcum

3:30 p.m. | Dancing on Air

4:00 p.m. | FatRat Da Czar

Entrance to museum galleries, exhibitions, or theaters requires the purchase of a museum ticket.

Click here to learn more about In Full Effect: A Celebration of South Carolina Hip-Hop.