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CNN Live At Daybreak

Hip-Hop on Display at Museum in Chicago

Aired April 24, 2002 - 06:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Finally, on DAYBREAK, hip-hop has entered a new domain. Its history is now on display at a museum in Chicago.

Our Keith Oppenheim is on the beat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It used to be you had to be quiet in museums. Not anymore. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, where the story of hip-hop, that blend of rap and rhythm that turned the tables on the music industry, is on display.

DR. CAROL ADAMS, CENTER INNER CITY STUDIES, NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY: Hip-hop is sort of the soundtrack of commerce today. It's influencing everything and everybody.

OPPENHEIM: The influence has extended from film to fashions. Styles, set by groups such as Run DMC or the Beastie Boys. Yet while dealing with questions about the violent lyrics in some rap songs, the main idea here is to connect hip-hop to the oral traditions of African American culture.

(on camera): For example, one panel here focus on Cab Calloway and his zoot suit. Calloway's words, rhythmic, inventive and sometimes spoken, were a precursor to rap.

DON DEMALLIE, MUSEUM VISITOR: So this seems to be truly American type music, but with pieces from other parts of the world.

OPPENHEIM (voice-over): Indeed, one learns the world is getting turned on to hip-hop, where rap songs are being created in many other languages. And one learns this is an art form young enough for kids to feel it is theirs.

STEVE HUDSON, MUSEUM VISITOR: Hip-hop is a feeling that the people back at the time had. The only way they can express themselves.

OPPENHEIM: And old enough for adults to appreciate its roots and contributions.

SHERRY BELL, MUSEUM VISITOR: It's legitimate, it's here. It's going to go on -- it's going to be around for a long time.

OPPENHEIM: In Chicago, I'm Keith Oppenheim.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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