There's A Boston Hip-Hop Memorabilia Archive In The Works

BOSTON, MA – It's not just ride-your-bike-to-work week, folks. It's Hip Hop Appreciation Week. The 20th Annual in Boston to be exact. And as such, the Boston Public Library is asking that if you were involved in the Massachusetts hip-hop community, bring their hip-hop memorabilia in on Saturday.

They're calling it "Show 'Em Whatcha Got" Mass. Memories Road Show: Hip-Hop Edition.

Think show and tell meets digital scrap book for the state's hip hop. In honor of the 20th annual Hip Hop Appreciation Week, they're looking for pictures, recordings, or memorabilia to be added to UMass Boston Healey Library’s Massachusetts Hip-Hop Archive.

What?

OK, so here's how it started: In 2016, University Archives & Special Collections in the Joseph P. Healey Library at UMass Boston started the Massachusetts Hip-Hop Archive with the donation by Pacey Foster of recordings from the Lecco’s Lemma radio program, a local rap music show that was founded by Magnus Johnstone and ran from 1985 to 1988 on MIT's college radio station WMBR (88.1 FM) and later on Boston College's WZBC (90.3 FM).

This collection already contains nearly 500 audiocassettes consisting of artist demo tapes and home recordings of Magnus Johnstone’s Lecco’s Lemma radio show. In addition to exposing listeners to mainstream hip-hop artists, the Lecco’s Lemma radio show provided Boston’s underground hip-hop community an outlet through which to be heard. The show’s host, encouraged area artists to send in their own recordings to play on air. The first series in the Lecco’s Lemma collection includes nearly 300 demo tapes by local hip-hop artists.

Last year the collection came available for public researchers to

As we continue to develop this new collection area, we welcome donations of archival materials from musicians, DJs, breakdancers, graffiti artists, producers, promoters, and fans that will help us document the rich heritage and legacy of hip-hop culture in Boston and Massachusetts.

Bring three items (photos, flyers, posters, or clothing) that tell your hip-hop story. Staff will scan photos, copy digital images, and record your story. All images will be added to the online collection at openarchives.umb.edu.

WHAT: "Show 'Em Whatcha Got" Mass. Memories Road Show: Hip-Hop Edition

WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

WHERE: Rabb Hall Connector, Lower Level Johnson building, Central Library in Copley Square, 700 Boylston Street.

This event was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities Common Heritage program in support of a larger project called “Local Rappers, DJs, B-Boys, and Graff: Documenting the Massachusetts Hip-Hop Community from the 1970s to the Present.”

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