Smithsonian Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Fund “Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap” (9 CDs and 300-Page Book)

From the Smithsonian:

The Smithsonian has launched a 30-day Kickstarter campaign today for the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, a powerful cultural statement told through an unequaled combination of music, text and stunning visuals. The compilation, to be produced and released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, includes nine CDs, more than 120 tracks and a 300-page book with extensive liner notes, essays by artists and scholars, and never-before-published photographs from the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s collection.
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The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap will be the first collection to include music from every major label and dozens of independent label recordings. The anthology explores important issues and themes in hip-hop history, and it provides a unique window into the many ways hip-hop has created new traditions and furthered musical and cultural traditions of the African diaspora.
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The Kickstarter campaign will run through Nov. 15. Its goal is $250,000.
All funds raised through the Kickstarter campaign will go toward the costs of producing the anthology. A video describing the campaign is available on the Kickstarter project page, featuring Chuck D of seminal hip-hop group Public Enemy, and MC Lyte, the first female MC ever to release a full-length hip-hop album.

Learn More About the Project (via Smithsonian)
Direct to Kickstarter Project Page
Note: This is the third Kickstarter campaign from the Smithsonian.
Past Campaigns

• Conserve Dorothy’s RUBY SLIPPERS
• Reboot the Suit: Bring Back Neil Armstrong’s Spacesuit

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