50 YEars of hip hop
Portland, Oregon
Located at NE Grand Ave & Halsey St., this new PSAA Community Art Project celebrates the 50 year anniversary of Hip Hop. This project came to life thanks to a team of incredibly talented PNW style writers and celebrates this milestone through one of Hip Hop’s most visible pillars – graffiti wildstyle art. The production also includes elements from all 5 Pillars of Hip Hop, including MCing/DJing, Breakdancing, and Knowledge.
Hip Hop is a groundbreaking genre that took the world by storm 50 years ago, reshaped our culture from coast-to-coast, and continues to reverberate throughout the world today. Hip Hop isn’t just music, breakdancing, or graffiti; it’s a voice for those unheard, a rhythm of defiance that continues to this day to captivate new generations and push new boundaries and breakthrough barriers. This year also brings another new milestone as Breaking (aka Breakdancing) is included at the Olympics for the first time.
Artist KANGO
Artist THEY DRIFT
““Hip Hop has always been there for me since a very young child. Kept me in a creative, competitive and grounded state of mind. Also kept me out of gangs and dealing which was also a heavy influence in my surroundings. I have met my very favorite people with the same goals and passion as I that I still build and develop with today. I can’t express enough about how powerful the lifestyle and culture can be for one person let alone worldwide.” - KANGO
As an artist, I am honored to be part of a project that commemorates over 50 years of hip hop. I selected Queen Latifah and Tupac as my subjects due to the profound influence they wielded not just within the realm of hip hop, but across broader cultural landscapes. Their commitment to amplifying their voices in the fight for social justice serves as a powerful inspiration for my own artistic journey.” - THEY DRIFT
“With this mural production, Portland Street Art Alliance wanted to honor the 50th year anniversary of the birth of Hip Hop. For us, it's not just about celebrating a groundbreaking new genre that took the world by storm, it is also about recognizing a movement that reshaped our culture from coast to coast and continues to reverberate throughout the world today. Hip Hop isn't just music, breakdancing, or graffiti; it's a voice for the voiceless, a resounding rhythm of defiance that continues to captivate new generations, push new boundaries and break barriers.
We hope that this mural in NE Portland celebrates the spirit of Hip Hop and stands as a vibrant tribute to the pioneers of Hip Hop. In painting this mural, we're not just commemorating the past; we're celebrating the enduring spirit of Hip Hop, a spirit of resilience, creativity, and most importantly passing down knowledge, and building a community of respect and unity. It's a reminder that art has the power to transcend barriers and inspire change. As you pass by the new mural, we hope it serves as a reminder of the stories of a movement that continues to shape our world, one rhyme, beat, and break at a time.” – PSAA Board of Directors
Thanks to all the artists who participated: GIVER, BRUE, THEY DRIFT, OTHER, KSRA, KANGO, DEPTHS, THRIVES, and ADJUST. With additional painting and organizing support from Hayden Senter, Galen Malcolm, and Jeremy Nichols.
We would also like to thank project sponsors PacifiCorp, Metro, Miller Paint, and Montana Cans for recognizing the power and expression of this artform, and for supporting regional artists and creative freedom.
