Hip Hop Landmarks All New Yorkers Should See Post-Coronavirus
New York City is the undisputed birthplace of hip hop.
The scene has changed over the past few decades, however, there are still spaces around the city where the origins of hip hop can be felt and experienced – if you know where to look. Here is a list of known and lesser-known hip hop landmarks, organized by borough.
Henry Chalfant, DEZ TFA at his Kay Gee wall, Graffiti Hall of Fame, 106th St and Broadway, Manhattan, 1983. © 2018 Henry Chalfant / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy Eric Firestone Gallery, New York.
GRAFFITI HALL OF FAME – Harlem
Founded in 1980 by Ray “Sting Ray” Rodriguez, Graffiti Hall of Fame is located in Harlem’s Jackie Robinson Educational Complex, and serves as a space for artists to hone their skills. While some of the murals are outside, most of them are located within the school. Be sure to check out this location during the week before 5:00pm.
LOCATION
Playground Of Jackie Robinson Educational Complex
106th St & Park Ave
New York, NY 10029
b/t Madison Ave & Park Ave
East Harlem
THE WRITER’S BENCH – The Bronx
During the 1970s through late 1980s, New York artists would gather on a bench located at 149th Street Grand Concourse. They waited towards the back of the uptown 2 and 5 train platform, and as graffiti-painted trains passed by, “writers” (graffiti artists) would critique the art. This process became known as benching.
Because the 2 and 5 trains connected and had train yards in both the Bronx and Brooklyn, artwork became fiercely competitive. An artist named Spin had one of his “Dump Koch” artwork photographed. The photo was sent to Ed Koch, New York City’s mayor at the time, who responded saying, “I must be getting to them.”
After the crackdown of “illegal” art in the late 80s, none of today’s trains show signs of its history. Those in the know frequently gather at The Writer’s Bench to pay homage and revisit nostalgia.
LOCATION
149th Street Grand Concourse
2 and 5 train station
The Bronx, NY 10451
CEDAR PARK – The Bronx
On August 11, 1974, DJ Kool Herc hosted a “Back to School” jam to help raise money for his younger sister, Cindy Campbell. It took place in the rec room of their 1520 Sedgwick Avenue complex, but the party became so crowded (the space could only hold about 100 people) they moved everyone across the street to Cedar Playground, known locally as Cedar Park.
Since then, park jams became a staple to hip-hop culture. During the 1970s and 80s, parties adapted to other parks, such as Crotona Park in the Bronx and Queensbridge in Queens. Many parks still host these old school park jams in the spring and summer, most notably under CityParksFoundation’s Summerstage.
LOCATION
1890 Cedar Ave
The Bronx, NY 10453
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST MURAL – Queens
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of A Tribe Called Quest’s debut album, The Low End Theory, artists created a mural, curated by advocate LeRoy McCarthy, of the iconic rap group. The mural is located on the side of Nu-Clear dry cleaners on 192nd Street and Linden Boulevard in Hollis, Queens, which is where ATCQ shot their iconic 1991 music video for “Check the Rhime.”
LOCATION
Linden Boulevard and 192nd Street
St. Albans, Queens 11412
WU-TANG CLAN DISTRICT – Staten Island
On May 4, 2019, the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and Targee Street in Staten Island was renamed the Wu-Tang District, in honor of the legendary rap group.
This came after a unanimous vote in December of the previous year by the city council to rename various New York City streets. The Park Hill section of Staten Island served as a backdrop for the group’s music, highlighting the numerous crimes and violence during the era.
LOCATION
Vanderbilt Ave & Targee St
Staten Island, NY 10304
PROPSECT PARK BANDSHELL – Brooklyn
Located in Prospect Park – the largest park in Brooklyn – The Bandshell is most famous for its “Celebrate Brooklyn!” summertime concerts, which was founded in 1979 and features artists of all genres.
During the 1980s, a homeless KRS-One spent evenings sleeping at The Bandshell and spent days reading at the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza. He dreamed of performing one day at the Bandshell, and in 2007, he got his chance.
LOCATION
141 Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY 11215
