National Music Centre Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop with Master T and Guests on August 29

Event in partnership with 10 at 10 Music & Culture will showcase four elements of hip-hop culture

(Calgary, AB – August 21, 2023) This month marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop. To celebrate, the National Music Centre (NMC) in partnership with 10 at 10 Music & Culture are pleased to announce an event with former MuchMusic VJ Master T and guests on August 29 at Studio Bell.

Tony Young (a.k.a. Master T) has been at the forefront of music, dance, and culturally diverse television for over 40 years. From 1990-2001 at a pivotal time in Canadian hip-hop history, he was a producer and VJ for various MuchMusic programs, including his original creation X-tendamix/Da Mix, and produced RapCity in the latter years, which helped fuel the growth of hip-hop in the country. Over his career, he has interviewed some of the genre’s biggest names, including Lauryn Hill, 2Pac, P Diddy, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Talib Kweli, Kardinal Offishall, Maestro, Classified, and countless others.

Moderated by Master T and co-curated by Master T and Beni Johnson, the founder and executive director of 10 at 10, the event will feature a hip-hop roundtable with Cartel Madras, Drezus, Temia, Mouraine, Da Kid T, Sargeant X Comrade, RTC Profit, Wyzewon, and Beni J; graffiti art from JD War Paint; an MC contest with three finalists performing tributes to hip-hop's 50th anniversary; a DJ showcase and interview with DJ Pump; an exhibition breaker battle with Juicebox Crew vs. Endless Possibility; and more in an effort to represent and celebrate the four elements of hip-hop culture (i.e. graffiti art, rapping, DJing, and breakdancing).

Rappers interested in entering the MC Contest are encouraged to show and prove their skills by creating a verse paying homage to 50 years of hip-hop culture from a Western perspective. The top three applicants will be awarded $200 each and selected to perform live on the evening of Tuesday, August 29. The top verse performance will then receive a free beat and recording session inside NMC’s world-class studios to create a song and continue the celebration of hip-hop culture. Submissions can be made at studiobell.ca/hiphop50 by Thursday, August 24 at 11:59 pm MT.

“I’m excited to celebrate this important milestone in hip-hop history at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Calgary, and chat with some of the Western Canadian artists who are shaping hip-hop today,” said Tony Young (a.k.a. Master T). “I hope hip-hop fans across generations come out to celebrate with us.”

“Master T had a massive impact on hip-hop in Canada by helping to bring it into the mainstream,” said Beni Johnson of 10 at 10 Music & Culture. “I’m proud to bring a pioneer like Master T together with the next generation of artists in Alberta.”

NMC Presents 50 Years of Hip Hop: Four Elements from the West with Master T and Guests takes place on August 29 at 6:00 pm and admission will be by donation (suggested donation is $5 and up). Visit studiobell.ca/whats-on to get your tickets.

About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

About 10 at 10 Music & Culture
10 at 10 is a multidimensional platform that amplifies the arts, music, and Black culture in Canada. Since 2011, it has grown from humble roots to international recognition, evolving into a substantial hub for education, urban arts, special events, creative services, promotions, and community. For more information, please visit 10at10.ca.

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Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
National Music Centre
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada