Kicking off this summer, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), the global catalog division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, will launch the first of its celebrations with an immersive celebration of the birth of Hip Hop and rap’s 50th birthday. Hip Hop 50 – Honoring 50 Years of Hip Hop: A Legacy of Rhythm, Revolution, and Soul, starts with a logo and branding designed by one of the culture’s most influential artists Eric Haze, who was at the forefront of Hip Hop movement. Renowned for creating seminal logos and album artwork for The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, EPMD, MTV, and countless others, his art piece, the Hip Hop 50 logo— will be among the key graphics for packaging on upcoming releases and figure prominently in various events and activations.
Born on street corners and in public parks, rap music originated from a grassroots underground art form in the seventies and quietly overtook popular culture as a force for change and the soundtrack to one generation after another. Each decade has yielded its own superstars, ranging from Public Enemy and LL Cool J in the eighties to Onyx and Salt-n-Pepa during the nineties and turn-of-the-century icons Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne in the aughts and beyond, representing everywhere from the East Cost to the Deep South. Along the way, these artists have earned GRAMMY® Awards, picked up RIAA Diamond certifications, and sold out stadiums and arenas. Their enduring influence speaks to the timelessness of hip-hop now and forever.
The partnership with Haze remains emblematic of the connection between Hip Hop 50 and the genre’s golden age. Led by UMe Urban, this initiative will trace the history of rap music with a series of very special anniversary editions of classic albums on exclusive vinyl colorways throughout 2023. These LPs span Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded on June 2, Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III (Deluxe) on June 9, and Salt-n-Pepa’s Very Necessary on October 13. In the fall, releases include Gang Starr’s Daily Operation, LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out, Onyx’s Bacdafucup, and Guru’s Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 on November 3 followed by Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back on November 10.
Colorways and details will be revealed soon for these limited-edition pressings.
Experience UMe Urban’s Hip Hop 50 in 2023.