Nas has urged rap fans to visit the ‘Hip-Hop: Conscious, Unconscious’ exhibit in New York City following a VIP exhibition in collaboration with Chase Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.
The exhibition, which opened to the public at Park Avenue’s Fotografiska Museum on Thursday (January 26), sports a collection of Hip Hop photography collected from the past five decades and coincides with Hip Hop’s 50th birthday this year.
AD LOADING...
“Check out Hip Hop: Conscious Unconscious, a photo exhibit documenting the 50-year evolution of one of the most influential cultural movements of our generation, Hip Hop,” Nas wrote on Instagram, adding in a separate post: “Shoutout to the photographers & Rap Kings -+ @faithnewman19 & Sacha Jenkins & @videomusicbox.”
The Queensbridge legend’s Instagram posts featured a series of photos from the event, which was attended by fellow rap royalty such as Raekwon, N.O.R.E., Styles P, Grandmaster Caz, Melle Mel, Havoc, Fabolous, Maino, Dave East, A-Trak and Ralph McDaniels
AD LOADING...
New York City mayor Eric Adams, actress Nia Long, comedian Michael Che, director/DJ Va$htie were also in the building.
“Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious” will be on display until May. Tickets are available here.
Nas’ own decorated catalog came into the conversation earlier this week when fans began debating who had the best verse on his 2002 “Made You Look” remix, which also featured Jadakiss and Ludacris. Luda laid claim to the honor by reciting his bars word for word in an effort to remind fans just how powerful his lyrics were.
“Man, I picked up my phone today and saw that the Luda fans chose violence and I’m loving every minute of it. So let’s add to the debate online about the ‘Made You Look’ song, the remix, the verses just in case they missed a line or something,” he said in an Instagram video before diving into his verse.
AD LOADING...
Irv Gotti is among those who still treasure the original “Made You Look,” which appeared on Nas’ sixth album God’s Son. During a recent appearance on the Earn Your Leisure podcast, the Murder Inc. founder crowned it the “best Hip Hop record” of all time.
“‘Made You Look’ may be the best Hip Hop record. He has the best Hip Hop album and the best Hip Hop single. The best Hip Hop record might be ‘Made You Look,” Gotti declared.
The “Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious” exhibit is just the latest event New York City has planned this year in celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary.
Multiple rap legends descended on New York’s City Hall in November, including Grandmaster Flash, Roxanne Shante and Slick Rick, who stood next to Mayor Eric Adams to speak about the celebrations planned in coordination with Bronx’s Universal Hip Hop Museum, which will finally open its doors in 2024.
AD LOADING...
“Today, hip hop legends came together at City Hall to announce @uhhmuseum and NYC’s plan to celebrate hip hop’s 50th anniversary in 2023,” Flash wrote on Instagram at the time. “It’s going to be big – I can’t wait to get started.”
Check out a trailer for “Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious” below:
