Metal Lungies

I got a press release from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the other day and they’ve apparently added some dope hip-hop artifacts to their collection. Personally I’d like to see Slick Rick’s eyepatch and the letter from the FBI to NWA.

Assorted Hip-Hop Flyers c.1977 – 1985

• Includes flyers from Saul Abbatiello, Afrika Bambaataa, Phase Too, Grandmaster Flash, Lovebug Starski and DJ Kool Herc.

Slick Rick

• Hat & Eye Patch c.1985
  • Slick Rick’s eye patch was not an affectation, as he was blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant.

Run D.M.C.

• Tennis Shoes & Sunglass Frames c.1985

Grandmaster Flash

• Mixer & Cap c.1988
  • **Flashformer Mixer by Gemini**
  • Cap by Kangol

Ice-T

• Body Count T-Shirt c.1998
• Release of Contract from Sire Records, November 12, 1992
  • After much public pressure, Sire Records asked Ice-T to pull the track “Cop Killer” from his 1992 Body Count album, claiming the track advocated violence against police. Ice-T refused, feeling the request compromised his artistic integrity. This letter released the artist from his recording contract.
• “Radio Suckers” lyric manuscript 1988
• Rolling Stone magazine August 20, 1992
• Concert Poster August 28, 1991 (Emunclaw, Washington)

N.W.A.

• Letter from the F.B.I. to Priority Records August 1, 1989
• Baseball Cap c.1990

Dj01 Edit: Here are some pics of the artifacts on display (Thanks Dani!)

More listings after the jump

2 Live Crew

• “Banned In The U.S.A.” 45 rpm single, vinyl 1990

Public Enemy

• Original Artwork c.1989
• Tour Program Sketches c.1989
  • From It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back album
• Spin Magazine October 1992
• **Flavor Flav of Public Enemy Clock c.1988**
• “Fight the Power” lyric manuscript

L.L. Cool J

• Leather Jacket 1995
  • Design by Vanson Leathers

Pepa of Salt-n-Pepa

• Jacket 1988
• Design by Mary’s Fashion

Snoop Dogg

• The Source Magazine April 1998
• T-Shirt and Sneakers c.2000
• “Money” lyric manuscript c.1998
  • This lyric segment is from an unreleased rap by Snoop Dogg

Jay-Z

• Hockey Jersey and Sneakers c.1999

Notorious B.I.G.

• **Leather Jersey c.1995**
• 45 rpm Records c.1995
  • These singles were from Biggie Smalls’ personal collection. He used these and many other records as backing tracks and samples for his early live performances and recordings.

Sean “P.Diddy” Combs

• Jacket by Gucci 2003

Andre 3000

• Sweater and Sneakers 2003

Mike D.

• Gloves and Goggles 1999

Wyclef Jean

• Harmonicas c.1996

Lauryn Hill

• Leather Jacket by levi stauss 1998

Queen Latifah

• **Stage outfit 1989**
• Queen Latifah photo c.1989

House of Pain

• Ring and Pin c.1992

De La Soul

• Necklace 1989

Prince Paul

• Notebook 1988
  • As the producer for De La Soul, Prince Paul wrote production notes in this notebook during the recording of their debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising.

“Rapture” lyric manuscript

• Written by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein
• Performed by Blondie
• Released on the album Autoamerican 1981
  • “Rapture” was released in January 1981. It became one of the first substantial hits to reference hip-hop, and it was the first rap-influenced single to reach Number One on the Billboard chart. The lyric references Fab 5 Freddy. The “Rapture” video, in which Freddy has a brief cameo, was the first hip-hop video to be shown on MTV.