IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 602 
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip hop and designating August 
11, 2023, as ‘‘Hip Hop Celebration Day’’, designating August 2023 
as ‘‘Hip Hop Recognition Month’’, and designating November 2023 as 
‘‘Hip Hop History Month’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 19, 2023 
Mr. BOWMAN (for himself, Ms. WATERS, and Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip hop and desig-
nating August 11, 2023, as ‘‘Hip Hop Celebration Day’’, 
designating August 2023 as ‘‘Hip Hop Recognition 
Month’’, and designating November 2023 as ‘‘Hip Hop 
History Month’’. 
Whereas 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the creation of hip 
hop; 
Whereas, on August 11, 1973, Clive ‘‘DJ Kool Herc’’ Camp-
bell introduced his innovative style of disc jockeying at an 
event organized by his sister, Cindy Campbell, called the 
‘‘Back To School Jam’’, which was held in the recreation 
room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York; 
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•HRES 602 IH 
Whereas, together, Clive ‘‘DJ Kool Herc’’ Campbell and the 
master of ceremonies engaged the crowd with rap on the 
microphone, while partygoers known as B-boys and B- 
girls danced, and introduced a new style, later known as 
‘‘hip hop’’, which combined the elements of a disc jockey 
(commonly known as a ‘‘DJ’’), a master of ceremonies 
(commonly known as an ‘‘MC’’), music, art, and dance; 
Whereas Clive ‘‘DJ Kool Herc’’ Campbell was inducted into 
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023; 
Whereas, from the humble beginnings of hip hop in New 
York City, the music, lyricism, dance, and art of hip hop 
has become a culture found in communities across the 
United States, and has long been a worldwide phe-
nomenon; 
Whereas the art and culture of hip hop is an original creation 
of the United States and one of the most popular genres 
of music within the United States; 
Whereas hip hop has had notable southern influences fol-
lowing its northern inception, such as jazz and bounce 
from New Orleans, Louisiana, the blues from Mississippi, 
and country from the South, and these influences along 
with other celebrated genres of music, such as disco, gos-
pel, soul, rock and roll, and Indigenous music from 
across the United States, have all helped hip hop tran-
scend boundaries and contributed significant intellectual 
heritage and regional influence to the creation and pro-
gression of hip hop over the last century; 
Whereas the hip hop genre has been reinvented often over the 
years since 1973, reflecting the State, city, and region of 
the music, from G-funk and hyphy on the West Coast, 
to bass and trap in the South, to drill in the Midwest, 
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•HRES 602 IH 
to many other sounds from coast to coast and from 
abroad, including contemporary hip hop, which continues 
that trend by allowing listeners not only to unwind and 
escape through a rhythmic beat but also to resonate and 
empathize with the stories being told; 
Whereas hip hop artists and supporters, originally of African 
heritage, now transcend many different ages, ethnicities, 
religions, locations, political affiliations, and socio-
economic statuses, which demonstrates the versatility and 
inclusivity of hip hop art and culture; 
Whereas the art and culture of hip hop have been adapted 
in many innovative forms that are inspirational, chal-
lenging, humorous, thought-provoking, and spiritual; 
Whereas hip hop as a multidimensional art form and lifestyle 
continues to produce new subgenres of music and stylistic 
lexicons and promotes new cultural imprints, trends, and 
movements that reverberate across the United States and 
around the globe; 
Whereas hip hop has provided opportunities for extra-
curricular activities, youth empowerment, creative outlets, 
physical fitness, vocabulary exercises, poetry, analytical 
thinking, entertainment, employment, and economic im-
pact and has become an industry that generates more 
than $1,000,000,000 annually; 
Whereas hip hop art, education, and culture have positive ef-
fects on society; 
Whereas, on August 11, 2023, the Federal Government, 
States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop Celebra-
tion Day; 
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•HRES 602 IH 
Whereas, during the month of August 2023, the Federal Gov-
ernment, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip Hop 
Recognition Month; and 
Whereas, during the month of November 2023, the Federal 
Government, States, cities, and towns will observe Hip 
Hop History Month: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘Hip Hop Cele-
bration Day’’; 
(2) supports the designation of ‘‘Hip Hop Rec-
ognition Month’’; 
(3) supports the designation of ‘‘Hip Hop His-
tory Month’’; 
(4) recognizes the 50 years of contributions of 
hip hop to art and culture; 
(5) encourages Members to commemorate the 
50th anniversary of hip hop and support appropriate 
activities that recognize the historic milestone and 
cultural legacy of the ‘‘Back To School Jam’’ of Au-
gust 11, 1973; and 
(6) encourages local governments in the United 
States to build partnerships with local hip hop enti-
ties and other members of the creative arts and 
music communities in celebration of the 50th anni-
versary of hip hop. 
Æ 
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