All-Night Celebration Will Include Hip-hop Performances and Discussions Featuring Grammy Nominated Emcee Rapsody and Pulitzer Prize Winner Mitchell S. Jackson with Performances by the National Double Dutch League
BROOKLYN, NY - On Saturday, June 17, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) will present Night in the Library, bringing together artists and thinkers for an all-night exploration of philosophy that will focus on a new and exciting subject area each year. This year, Night in the Library: The Philosophy of Hip-Hop will take over the iconic Central Library from 7pm to 2am with keynote addresses, music, discussions, debates, and activities inspired by the genre’s music and culture. The program takes as its model BPL’s immensely successful Night of Philosophy and Ideas, which became a citywide success that drew 7,000 attendees from 2018-2022.
“We are thrilled to once again welcome New Yorkers to join us for Brooklyn’s most exciting celebration of culture and exchange of ideas,” said László Jakab Orsós, BPL’s Vice President of Arts and Culture. “On the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re proud to honor the legacy of the genre and take a deep dive into this multifaceted art form that has transcended music and had a tremendous influence on our cultural fabric on a global scale.”
The evening will be co-curated by LeBrandon Smith, Founder of Really Just Hip-Hop, Kelly Harrison, and April R. Silver, founder of Akila Worksongs, who curated the Dilemma Series, a seminar style discussion on the past and future of hip-hop.
Night in the Library: The Philosophy of Hip-Hop will feature Roc Nation artists, including Grammy-nominated rapper Rapsody, Johnny Cocoa, HDBeenDope, and Rueben Vincent.
Speakers will include Hon. Dr. Gloria Carter of the Shawn Carter Foundation; Mitchell S. Jackson, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer; Emerson Sykes of the ACLU; Hit rapper Topaz Jones; Naima Cochrane, Founder of Hip-Hop Sermon; and Bill Adler, Def Jams’ first publicist. Other speakers include, Mickey Factz, Andre Willis, DJ DonWill, Alvin Blanco, Tricia Rose, Kathryn Sophia Belle, Peter “Souleo” Wright, DeForrest Brown, Todd Craig, Ivie Ani, and Brianna Ageymang.
To bring this vision to life, BPL is also partnering with the multiplatform media brand MACRO, a company that represents the voice and perspectives of Black people and persons of color. MACRO will act as co-curators and assist with promotion, engagement, and talent outreach.
“Hip-Hop has outgrown anything imagined, as it continues to evolve culturally and musically,” said LeBrandon Smith, Founder of Really Just Hip-Hop. “Arguably the most influential artform in the world, it has permeated all parts of society including fashion, media, sports, language and even politics. This ubiquity has created a world where Hip-Hop means different things to people. The combination of celebrating this artform with the institution that helped cultivate my love for reading in my birthplace of Brooklyn is special to me. Night in the Library will allow for exploration of the genre from different perspectives as a versatile artform that can be provocative, vulnerable, and always thought-provoking. We look forward to celebrating the history of Hip-Hop, while posing challenging questions that could give us a glimpse into what the future might hold.”
The event will also feature performances by the National Double Dutch League, film screenings, dancers and choreographers, close readings of rap lyrics, and sound vests by Not Impossible Labs, which allow non-hearing people to feel music.
This year, libraries across Brooklyn will celebrate the legacy of hip-hop through programs that include learning to DJ, graffiti art, breakdancing, spoken word, poetry, fashion, movies, and music.
For more information and to register to attend Night in the Library: The Philosophy of Hip-Hop visit nightinthelibrary.com.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.7 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 60,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.
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