After hosting Kendrick Lamar‘s knockout performance with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center seems hip to the idea that hip-hop is a crucial part of American culture. So it’s fitting that the institution announced a slate of new hip-hop programming yesterday (March 8) with the pioneering Q-Tip at the helm.
The "A Tribe Called Quest" founding member is the Kennedy Center’s first artistic director for hip-hop culture—a role that involves curating this summer’s Hip-Hop Culture Series.
"With hip-hop constantly changing and evolving, it is easy to forget the history and legacy that precede it," said Q-Tip in a press release, adding, "I want to begin at the beginning of the culture to help people see its roots, better understand its present and responsibly create its future."
The new series, created in partnership with hip-hop-focused organization Hi-ARTS, will feature six events between July 2016 and June 2017. Check out the full list of programs on the Kennedy Center’s website.