Hip hop originated in the Bronx over fifty years ago, in the summer of 1973, and has since grown into a worldwide cultural force that continues to inspire creators and audiences.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who once performed under the name “Young Cardamom,” met with hip‑hop legend Nas at Queensbridge Park, located just outside Nas’s childhood residence in the Queensbridge Projects.
In a recent video released by the Mayor’s Office, the two discuss hip hop’s origins and its significance for New York’s past and future. Mamdani remarked, “We shouldn’t settle for New York merely being the birthplace of hip hop; we must ensure it remains its home by guaranteeing that the artists who create here can afford to live here.”
He highlighted the city’s increasing cost of living, noting that many of the creators who built New York’s vibrant culture are being displaced. “If we allow the city to become so expensive that art turns into a luxury, we rob future generations of its magic,” Mamdani warned. “New Yorkers deserve a municipality that exemplifies what happens when we foster conditions for this art form to thrive.”
Nas reflected on the genre’s impact and roots, stating, “Hip hop reveals the truth. It shows you what a city looks like, sounds like, and feels like. It arose as a cry for change from people who wanted the world to hear their experiences.” He added, “That voice emerged from a city facing tremendous challenges.”
During the short film, Mamdani also joined students at the Bronx School of Hip Hop on their first day. The school, which employs hip‑hop culture as the foundation for a rigorous academic program, serves grades nine through twelve in the Bronx’s Claremont area of District Nine. Students study emceeing, DJing, graffiti, breaking, and “knowledge of self,” linking academic lessons to real‑world experiences, with coursework in audio production, digital media, and financial literacy supplementing the standard curriculum.
Principal Jason Reyes said, “It’s surreal that the mayor’s office and the chancellor’s office support this school. Who would have imagined hip‑hop reaching this level? It means the world to see New York leading the way in a manner no other city has matched.”
