Hip Hop @ Rice

September 2024

The induction of Mia X into the CERCL Hip Hop Archival Collection at Fondren Library’s Woodson Research Center. Mia X, the first female emcee to get a contract with rapper and entertainment magnate, Master P on his successful record label No Limit Records, discussed her life and career at a free open to the public event at the Rice Memorial Center/Ley Student Center. A panel including Dr Anthony Pinn, Chinara Butler and G Dash of SwishaHouse discussed Mia's contributions to Southern Hip Hop.

June-November 2024

Starting during Black Music Month Rice University’s CERCL and Fondren Library have partnered with the Houston Public Library and the CCM Foundation to help present the “‘Straight Flexin’, No Plexin’” hip-hop exhibit. This immersive exhibit, to be held in the Vinson Branch Library at Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center throughout June (extended to November), will showcase an unparalleled collection of artifacts and memorabilia from hip-hop icons such as Swishahouse, E-40 and Scotty ATL. It will also include exclusive, never-before-seen items from rapper and record producer Pimp C.

March 2024

This one-on-one conversation between KRS-One and Dr. Anthony Pinn is part of CERCLs Hip Hop Archive Oral History Series held by Fondren Library’s Woodson Research Center. KRS, an acronym for ““Knowledge Reigning Supreme”, has 20 published albums to his credit and numerous appearances with other artists. In addition to lecturing at over 500 universities in the United States and publishing three ground-breaking books; “The Science of Rap” (1995), “Ruminations” (2003), and the Gospel of Hip Hop” (2009), KRS-One has also established the Stop The Violence Movement (1989), influenced the creation of the “West-Coast All-Stars’ anti-gang anthem “We’re All In The Same Gang” (1990), warned the Hip Hop community against giving up their humanity for technological advancement (H. E. A. L.—Human Education Against Lies-1991), and has established the Temple of Hip Hop for the spiritual exploration of Hip Hop’s culture (1996). It was KRS-One who first argued that “rap is something we do; Hip Hop is something we live” and introduced the “I am Hip Hop” philosophy in 1994 which Black Entertainment Television uses as the title of their Hip Hop Lifetime Achievement Award today.

October 2017

This event featured a 1000 image slideshow documenting Houston's underground rap culture and panel discussion with Mike Frost, a photographer and graphic designer who has defined the image and branding of rap and hip hop albums in Texas and beyond, and guests Paul Wall, Brandon Holley, Orbit, G-Dash, and Michael "5000" Watts of the Swishahouse. This event celebrated the induction of the SLFEMP/Mike Frost collection into CERCL's Hip Hop archive in the Woodson Research Center Special Collections and University Archives in Rice’s Fondren Library.

The event was part of Moody Center for the Arts Dimensions Variable, a full day of programming held in conjunction with Mickalene Thomas: Waiting on a Prime-Time Star. Dimensions Variable brings together a wide range of arts, from music and design to fashion and performance, all in conversation with the exhibition on view.

March 2013

A packed auditorium of guest attended a panel to celebrate the induction of the SwishaHouse collection into CERCL's Hip Hop Archival Collection housed at the Woodson Research Center Special Collections and University Archives in Rice’s Fondren Library. Michael "5000" Watts, G Dash, OG Ron C, Cahmillionaire, Lil' Keke and Archie Lee were on the panel aloneg with moderator DJ Madd Hatta. The archival collection contains several Photographs, promotional cards, posters, published interviews and music of Swisha House artists such as Paul Wall, Lil Mario, Slim Thug, Coota Bang, Michael 5000 Watts, Big Tyme, Lester Roy, Sabwarfare, Archie Lee, J Dawg and many others. Additionally, the collection features a large framed platinum record presented to CERCL to commemorate the sale 1 million copies of Paul Wall's The Peoples Champ album.