culture that continues to inspire the world. Your legacy will never be forgotten. 🕊️🌹

📸 TRACY 168
Flyer courtesy of curators Paradise Gray and Pete Nice #TheHipHopMuseum

inspiring generations of graffiti writers around the world. His creativity, originality, and contributions to Hip Hop’s formative years will forever remain part of the culture’s history.

Rest in peace, RIFF 170. Thank you for helping lay the artistic foundation of a

helping shape the visual identity of the emerging culture.

His name carried a special meaning. RIFF stood for “Reading Is Fundamentally Fantastic,” while 170 represented the street corner near his childhood home.

RIFF 170’s artistic influence reached far beyond the Bronx,

arrows, curls, connections, and flowing designs helped push the creative boundaries of graffiti. His contributions extended beyond the walls and trains of New York City. He also designed some of the earliest Hip Hop party flyers for pioneers DJ Kool Herc and Coke La Rock,

Inspired by comic books and his uncle’s drawings, he developed a passion for art that would eventually leave a lasting mark on Hip Hop culture.

Introduced to graffiti by CHRIS 170 and BONANZA, RIFF became known for his innovative “mechanical” lettering style. His intricate

The Hip Hop Museum extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, & loved ones of legendary Bronx graffiti pioneer RIFF 170. 🕊️🌹

Born and raised in the South Bronx, RIFF 170 began his artistic journey in 1971 at just 11 years old while living in the Mitchell Houses.

its decade. All the way through 2024's Blue Lips, he's never made the same album twice. 

Bucket hats up. What's your favorite ScHoolboy Q record? #TheHipHopMuseum

Alongside Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul, he helped make Black Hippy one of the most celebrated crews of the 2010s. 

His major-label debut Oxymoron hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2014, and Blank Face LP followed with one of the darkest, most cinematic rap albums of

Happy 40th birthday to Groovy Q himself, ScHoolboy Q. 

Born on a U.S. Army base in Germany and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Q came up through TDE's early days to become one of the West Coast's most distinct voices.

25 years later, The Great Depression remains a powerful reminder of the pain, passion, and honesty that defined his artistry.

What’s your favorite DMX album? Let us hear it. 🐾 #TheHipHopMuseum

emotional depth behind his music. That powerful contrast cemented DMX as one of Hip Hop’s most compelling and authentic voices.

DMX would eventually extend his historic streak to five consecutive No. 1 album debuts with Grand Champ in 2003.

You,” featuring Faith Evans, paid an emotional tribute to his late grandmother.

Throughout the album, X explored grief, faith, inner conflict, and survival. His ability to transition effortlessly from ferocious, barking street anthems to deeply vulnerable prayers revealed the

first four albums enter the chart at the top.

Following the massive success of …And Then There Was X (1999), DMX returned with a darker, more introspective project. Songs like “Who We Be” and “We Right Here” delivered his signature intensity, while “I Miss

25 years ago, on October 23, 2001, DMX released his fourth studio album, The Great Depression. 🐾

Arriving just six weeks after 9/11, the album marked another historic chapter in X’s career. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making him the first artist to have his

because her artwork literally pops! Her work is a beautiful example of how Hip Hop continues to inspire creativity across artistic disciplines and generations.

Show this incredible artist some love and follow her journey! 🙌🏾🎨

📲 @iamthepopartist on IG #TheHipHopMuseum

designing sneakers for Rocawear. After stepping away from art, she rediscovered her passion by painting sneakers. That spark eventually evolved into her signature style, combining bold colors, dimensional elements, and remarkable realism.

Rasheedah calls herself The Pop Artist

developed a deep connection to Hip Hop at an early age. To her, Hip Hop was more than music. It was an art form where the beats, rhymes, fashion, and culture came together.

Her creative journey took her through the fashion industry, from visual merchandising and styling to

The realism, the creativity, the attention to detail! 🎨🔥

Meet Rasheedah Bynum, also known as The Pop Artist, whose incredible 3-D mixed media portraits bring art to life in extraordinary ways!

Inspired by the music, fashion, and energy of the 1970s and 1980s, Rasheedah