The long-awaited Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx is expected to open its doors in about a year.
To help raise $50 million for construction and programming, the museum will host its second gala Wednesday at Cipriani Wall Street, bringing together members of the hip-hop community and business leaders.
Several honorees will be recognized at the event, including Bronx Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, rappers Fat Joe and Slick Rick and radio legend Kool DJ Red Alert.
“It’s our pre-opening gala, so it’s a fundraiser to support the museum,” said museum CEO Rocky Bucano. “As we get prepared to open our doors next fall, this is probably our most important fundraiser of the year.”
Located on Exterior Street near East 149th Street in the South Bronx, the museum continues interior construction as part of a larger development that also includes new affordable housing units.
The Universal Hip Hop Museum is being billed as the official museum of record for the genre.
“It’s 55,000 square feet and it’s dedicated to the preservation and celebration of hip-hop on a global level, not just from the Bronx level or New York City level. We’re celebrating the global history of hip-hop,” Bucano said.
The Hip Hop Museum is slated to open in October of next year.