When it comes to the city of New York, the 5 boroughs, each borough has its own particular magic that the others don’t have. Each borough has its own “Picasso” to perfectly represent it. Harlem has 125th Street and the Harlem Renaissance history, Queens has Queensbridge projects and the history of all the hip hop greats that came out and survived it, Brooklyn has Biggie Smalls and the Barclay’s Center downtown where all the greatest stars from all over the world go to sell out shows and then there’s The Bronx. For a very long time, The Bronx was only known mostly for negative things. It’s environment, the people, the atmosphere, the food, the neighborhoods, the crime, the poverty, sounds like every other ghetto in the entire New York City right? But to those who dislike The Bronx solely like to focus on the negatives due it’s borough’s own reputation. Outside of it’s constant ignorant picking and biggin’ up the negatives of The Bronx, there’s one main positive story to look forward to about the borough and it’s the story about the birthplace of Hip Hop culture. It’s a place where all the hip hop pioneers and early gangs have walked the land. They fought, made up, and created something out of what their environment was. Just when the Civil Rights Movement and the Disco era were slowly coming to a close, here’s this music, style, & culture that was born. Born to represent the poor kids with run down sneakers from playing outside all day, to having little to no food, living in a place that burned down and abandoned, Hip Hop became the soundtrack of the ghetto. Block parties & house parties took over, DJ’s stole equipments and vinyl just to make these parties happen. Climbing up electric poles in the street to hook the wiring up to the equipment so that the DJ could do his thing, it was then the DJ’s gave birth to the break dancers or what they were called the “B-boy’s” and “B-girl’s.” Coming our to dance during the break part of the song the DJ spun over and over on a loop, there was also the “emcee” or put MC aka the Mic Controller or Master of Ceremony. It was then during the 1970’s when hip hop emerged out of the ghetto streets of The Bronx, New York. So many years later, the culture has captivated and progressed into so much more. The fashion, movies, the artists, everything. Even better, The Bronx even has a new Universal Hip Hop Museum at The Bronx Terminal Market that takes you on a historical journey of hip hop’s history. I like to call it a “Disney World” for a Bronx native. A Bronx native like myself is proud to be walking the land of the pioneers everyday. To see these important figures names and faces on the walls is an everyday inspiration to keep doing what I’m doing. It makes me proud to BE from Da Boogie Down Bronx, The South Bronx, where the people are fresh! Word! A small exhibit for now to give us a preview of what’s to come. The official place will be built in 2023. 50 years after it’s official birth, August 11th, 1973. It’s the place to be! You can check out the website at uhhm.org and purchase a free ticket for entry at the place. Pick a day, a time, all that good stuff! The place is opened from 10am to 7pm. You don’t wanna miss out on this! You can’t! Go visit ASAP!