A picture from our 2017-2019 Queens Hip Hop Pioneers Photo Exhibit, curated by MFidel Photography.
November is Hip Hop History Month! Join us and QPL Hip Hop Coordinator (and music legend) Ralph McDaniels all month long as we start getting ready for hip hop’s 50th anniversary in 2023, and celebrate hip hop as a global force for culture, civil rights, and, of course, music!
Hip Hop History Month Programs
Live Talk from Queens with Ralph McDaniels
Join QPL Hip Hop Coordinator Ralph McDaniels as he talks with his special guests about hip hop, literature, community, culture, and a wide variety of topics! Tune in live on our Instagram.
Tuesdays, November 8, 15, 22, and 29, 3pm
Queens Hip Hop 101: A Master Class
Join Ralph McDaniels and hip hop's top entertainers for this FREE in-person master class! Learn from experienced professionals how to brand yourself, make beats, become a DJ, publish podcasts, and more. Classes meet 2 days a week. Register here to participate.
Tuesdays, November 1, 8, 15, 4pm
Thursdays, November 3, 10, 17, 4pm
Langston Hughes Library, 100-01 Northern Boulevard
Hip Hop History Month with Far Rockaway Hip Hop Legend MC Serch
QPL welcomes legendary Far Rockaway hip hop artist MC Serch to our celebration of Hip Hop History Month. Join us and learn about the business of hip hop!
MC Serch grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens and graduated from Music & Art High School. During his 40-year musical career, he has received multiple gold and platinum records, served as the executive producer of Nas' debut studio album “Illmatic,” and was a founding member of the iconic hip hop group 3rd Bass.
Wednesday, November 9, 4pm
Far Rockaway Library, 1003 Beach 20th Street
Hip Hop History Month with the Legends DJ Divine and DJ Vern
Come to the Library for some great music and conversation about the history of Queens hip hop with DJ Divine and DJ Vern, part of Queens Public Library's celebration of Hip Hop History Month!
Thursday, November 17, 5pm
Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica
Ralph McDaniels’ All Vinyl 45s Hip Hop and Soul Brunch
Join Uncle Ralph for his Instagram Live all-vinyl DJ sets of hip hop, soul, and old-school favorites, every Saturday! Tune in live on our Instagram.
Saturdays, November 5, 12, 19, and 26, 1pm
DJ 101 with DJ Wiz of Kid 'n Play
Hip Hop History Videos
Hip Hop History Month and Hip Hop Archiving (Instagram, 11/16/21)
Ralph McDaniels talks with Queens archivist Syreeta Gates.
The History of Hip Hop in Queens with Bugsy of WBLS (Instagram, 11/23/21)
Uncle Ralph and Queens resident and radio personality Fred "Bugsy" Buggs of WBLS talk about the history of hip hop in Queens.
Black History Month: Health & Wellness Dance Party with Tati-B (Facebook Live, 2/4/22)
Choreographer Tati-B, Ralph McDaniels, and friends have a Hip Hop Dance Party and share fun facts about the history of Hip Hop Dance!
International Women’s Day with Hush Hip Hop Tours (Instagram, 3/8/22)
Ralph McDaniels talks with Hush Hip Hop Tours CEO Debra Harris.
Learn About Hip Hop Blvd (Instagram, 5/3/22)
Uncle Ralph talks with hip hop activist and Hip Hop Blvd Co-Founder Al Pizarro.
The G.O.A.T. Monument with Sherwin the Artist (Instagram, 6/14/22)
Ralph McDaniels talks with Sherwin Banfield about his tribute to LL Cool J, live from Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Learn About the Universal Hip Hop Museum (Instagram, 7/19/22)
Uncle Ralph talks with Universal Hip Hop Museum Executive Director Rocky Bucano.
Hip Hop Author Talk with Kenny Parker (Instagram, 10/11/22)
Ralph McDaniels talks with author, DJ, producer, and brother of KRS-One Kenny Parker.
Hip Hop History Books
Here's a special list of books about hip hop curated by Ralph McDaniels.
Mama Phife Represents: A Verse Memoir by Cheryl Boyce-Taylor
Watch Cheryl Boyce-Taylor's interviews with Ralph McDaniels: Interview One (also with Roxanne Shanté), Interview Two (the 30th anniversary of A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory)
Miss Pat: My Reggae Music Journey by Pat Chin
Watch Pat Chin's interviews with QPL President & CEO Dennis M. Walcott and Ralph McDaniels
Rap Tees: A Collection of Hip Hop T-Shirts 1980-1999 by DJ Ross One
Watch DJ Ross One's interview with Ralph McDaniels
DMC #1 (Darryl Makes Comics) and Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide: A Memoir by Darryl "DMC" McDaniels
Watch DMC's interview with Ralph McDaniels
The Motherlode: 100+ Women That Made Hip Hop by Clover Hope
Watch Clover Hope's interview with Ralph McDaniels
The Marathon Don't Stop: The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle by Rob Kenner
Watch Rob Kenner's interview with Ralph McDaniels
Hip Hop at the End of the World: The Photography of Ernie Paniccioli
Where I'm From: Growing Up Hip Hop by Ron Amen-Ra Lawrence
I Know My Rights: Bill of Rights by Mysonne Linen
Watch Mysonne Linen's interview with Ralph McDaniels
From Staircase to Stage: The Story of Raekwon and the Wu-Tang Clan by Raekwon
Sweat The Technique by Rakim
A Cypher in Queens
Take a look back at our 2019 hip hop art exhibit with Sherwin Banfield at Central Library in Jamaica.
Hip Hop in Queens Historical Collection on Aviary
Watch these special videos of past hip hop programs at Queens Public Library, including interviews with KRS-One, DMC, Daymond John, and many more!