The legend goes that back in 1973 DJ Kool Herc spun records at a birthday party in the rec room of his building at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in The Bronx, and that’s when Hip-Hop started. In honor of the seminal DJ’s contributions to the culture, a section of that same block will be renamed Hip-Hop Boulevard.
Reports DNA Info New York:
The City Council plans to affirm the legacy of The Bronx as the birthplace of hip-hop on Feb. 5 by passing legislation that would co-name a portion of Sedgwick Avenue as “Hip-Hop Boulevard,” according to Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson’s office.
Although the exact site of hip-hop’s birth is up for debate, a commonly accepted spot is 1520 Sedgwick Ave., where DJ Kool Herc and his sister hosted what his website refers to as the “first hip-hop party” on Aug. 11, 1973.
Gibson, who represents the district that includes 1520 Sedgwick Ave., said that the co-naming is meant to honor both DJ Kool Herc and the overall contributions that The Bronx has made to creating hip-hop over the years.
“I’m thankful that it has evolved to a genre of music that has gained so much attention and popularity,” she said. “We have a lot of Bronx natives who are trailblazers.”
Gibson is also working on bringing a proper Hip-Hop museum to The Bronx.
Back in 2010, 1520 Sedgwick was under the threat of foreclosure and despite a public auction in 2011, its tenants were able to stay and the building was able to remain affordable.
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Photo: AP Photo