The New York Times just published an extensive piece on the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, featuring key insights from members of the project’s executive committee, such as Chuck D and 9th Wonder.
The article aptly captures the nuances and challenges that come with the Smithsonian’s colossal task: memorializing four decades of history in one box set. Though the genre is hard to pin down and constantly evolving, The New York Times asserts that the box set serves as proof that the next four decades to come will be just as expansive and vibrant.
The landmark Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap — 120 tracks, 9 cds, a 300-page book with 10 essays, extensive track-by-track liner notes, and never-before-published images comes out August 20th.
Check out Jon Caramanica’s critic notebook on the complexities in assembling a set of this magnitude here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/05/arts/music/smithsonian-anthology-hip-hop-rap.html
