New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has approved a $3.75 million grant to help build the Universal Hip-Hop Museum.
Construction on the museum is set to begin during the summer of 2020. However, it is not expected to open until 2023. As it stands now, the museum will be built in the Bronx off of the Major Deegan Expressway by 149th Street.
Rocky Bucano of the museum’s board said, “We knew it was important because the Bronx is where hip-hop started.”
He added, “It’s crazy to think of how hip-hop — which has such an influence on pop culture, advertising, politics — doesn’t have a place to call home.”
Rocky Bucano is joined by Kurtis Blow in leading the effort to build the $80 million museum. In addition, LL Cool J, Nas, Q Tip and others currently serve as ambassadors for the museum.
As described, he museum hopes to celebrate “the history of local and global hip-hop music and culture.”
While the official museum won’t open until 2023, the Universal Hip-Hop Museum recently opened up a pop-up installation in the Bronx Terminal Market.
