HR0377LRB103 33731 LAW 63545 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to recognize the music genre of hip-hop
4for its cultural and social impact in commemoration of its
550th anniversary on August 11, 2023; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Hip-Hop is a political and musical movement with
7a distinct culture, with its four core facets being DJing,
8MCing, otherwise known as rapping, break dancing, and street
9art or graffiti; the genre's rise can be attributed to Black
10artists who persisted and continue to push barriers and stand
11up for their right to be heard; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Hip-hop's influence has reverberated across
13countless industries, including music, fashion, and sports,
14and has spread from New York to every U.S. state and around the
15world; the genre has also spawned the subgenres of gangster,
16conscious, rap rock, and drill, to name a few; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Hip-Hop was created through the house party scene
18thanks to the efforts of such disc jockeys as Frankie
19Knuckles, Farley Jackmaster Funk, Steve "Silk" Hurley, Jesse
20Saunders, Ron Hardy, and many more creating house music, the
21predecessor to modern electronic music, around the same time
22as hip-hop's rise during the 80s; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Hip-Hop's evolution continued into the 90s with
2legendary artists 2Pac, Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, Snoop
3Dogg, and others; during this era, the genre's status was
4constantly challenged and upheld by the courts, which affirmed
5an artist's right to free speech; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Hip-Hop reached meteoric heights in the 2000s and
7beyond; through the work of such artists as 50 Cent, Drake, Lil
8Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole, the genre's place as the
9dominant popular music genre of the United States was firmly
10cemented; according to global marketing research firm Nielsen,
11the genre, listed as hip-hop/modern R&B, finally overtook rock
12music as the highest selling music genre in the United States
13in 2017; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Hip-hop artists of Illinois have made significant
15contributions to the development of hip-hop, and they include
16Kanye West, Twista, Common, Chief Keef, and Chance the Rapper;
17and
 
18    WHEREAS, Kanye West and Common, two of hip-hop's most
19popular artists, were both born and raised in the Southeast
20Side of Chicago, with the former hailing from the South Shore
21neighborhood and the latter originating from the Calumet
22Heights neighborhood; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Kanye West has flourished in a career spanning
2more than 20 years, influencing generations of artists in all
3genres; his talent and impact have been solidified by his 24
4Grammy wins, his 84 RIAA-certified platinum digital singles,
5the most of any artist, and more; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Common has succeeded in a career lasting more
7than 30 years, working to make an impact in hip-hop, film,
8activism, and more; his talent and impact have been
9demonstrated by his three Grammy wins, his multiple RIAA
10certifications, and through his roles in film, television,
11gaming, and activism; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Hip-Hop continues to have an impact on our
13society through its influence on music, culture, fashion, and
14beyond; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
16HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
17we recognize the music genre of hip-hop in commemoration of
18its 50th anniversary and its continued cultural and social
19impact on the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois; and be
20it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

 

 

HR0377- 4 -LRB103 33731 LAW 63545 r

1presented to the Governor, the Lt. Governor, the Speaker of
2the House, the Mayor of the City of Chicago, Kanye West, and
3Common.