Starting Aug. 7, GMA is kicking off one of the biggest celebrations in history with a week-long series dedicated to Hip-hop’s 50 years of impact.
Today, Aug. 4, GMA made an announcement sure to pique the interest of hip-hop lovers across the globe. According to ABC,“It will honor hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with the week-long series,”Hip-Hop Turns 50,” on GMA featuring live performances, guest appearances, special events, and an exploration of the genre’s influence on culture and communities from its onset through the present day.”
And this is definitely something to get hyped about.
Featured Guest
According to ABC/GMA, Jeezy will be there to get the festivities started. He will join the GMA team for an interview followed by a performance of his hottest tracks. As a bonus, a special surprise guest will make an appearance.
But that’s not all; Monday’s show will also include a sit-down with Offset, who will discuss his future in the industry, among other topics. Amazingly, this will be the ignition point.
GMA “Hip-Hop Turns 50,”
The rest of the week proves to be fire with guests such as GloRilla and Saucy Sanatana, who will discuss topics such as women and their indelible impression on the culture and the intersection of hip-hop and the LGBTQ+ community.
These promise to be real conversation starters essential at this pivotal point in hip-hop as we look back at the past, access the present, and prepare for the future.
Only the Beginning: GMA Summer Concert Series
While this offering will surely be an event to remember, it will be only one way that GMA is turning up for the culture. On Friday, August 11th, “Hip Hop” will be front and center in GMA’s Summer Concert Series. Some icons of hip-hop will blaze the stage. Fans will want to tune in to catch artists such as Remy Ma, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, and BIA. And there’s a juicy bonus,
“The Summer Concert Series” will feature a live fashion show. Viewers will get to appreciate some of the hottest fashion looks donned by hip-hop’s crème of the crème. But wait, this is not merely any fashion show. This showcase has a much deeper significance. It highlights not only the trendiest fashions of our times but the trends which have “defined decades of fashion around the world.” And this is all courtesy of fashion show host Tiffany Reid (senior VP of Fashion at Bustle Digital Group) and stylist (journalist) Joe Zee.
Additive Celebration of the Culture
Culture is an all-encompassing term that includes not only music, fashion, and food. It’s expansive reaching into areas of politics and education, cornerstones of society. So, celebrating the other branches of hip-hop culture, host Michale Strahan will sit down with the person behind a progressive program for the empowerment of Black Men and youth, “Peel Dem Layers Back.”
This spotlight segment will explore how this resource moves to help the target group “process their emotions and trauma through the creativity of hip-hop.” And we dig it. As quoted on the organization’s home page, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
That’s a message everyone can vibe with.
We Salute the Turn-Up
GMA is turning things up a notch, and it couldn’t be more appreciated. Hip-hop has become a massive influence with an international reach. And it just keeps expanding. Although we have come a long way from that block party, we still have a long way to go.
But occasionally, one must stop and take measures to appreciate and laud where we stand in the present. Incredibly, significant outlets like GMA are making the move to do so. So here’s to 50 down and 50 more, let’s turn up together!
Written by: Renae Richardson
