07/03/2025
So far, its been a Historic Week for Chicago Hip Hop ā Filled with Legacy, Unity, and a Call for Healing
On July 1st, the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum proudly reopened its doors with the launch of the āWomen in Hip Hopā exhibition
a powerful, long-overdue tribute to the countless women whoāve shaped the sound, style, and soul of Chicago Hip Hop. From emcees to DJs, dancers to taggers, educators to entrepreneurs this exhibit is a celebration of legacy, impact, and excellence.
That same evening, Hip Hop icons Shawnna and
L Streetz gathered the culture at Enviyon Studios for a listening party of their groundbreaking collaborative album, āRun It Back.ā A beautiful fusion of generations, styles, and sisterhood, the project is already being hailed as a milestone moment for women in rap a bridge between past and present, honoring what was while making space for whatās next.
Then on July 2nd, rising star Mello Buckzz hosted a Mixtape Release Event in River North at Artā¢is Chicago, drawing fans and supporters from all over. Tragically, what began as a night of music, community, and celebration ended in heartbreak. A mass shooting occurred outside the venue, taking the lives of four and injuring many others.
š Our hearts are heavy.ļæ½šš½ We send prayers for peace, healing,
and comfort to all those affected.ļæ½
And we also send a reminder to the
Hip Hop community:
We are not just music.
We are movement.
We are family. We are resilience.ļæ½
Even in tragedy, we will not stop creating, connecting, and building.ļæ½
We must continue to honor the culture, uplift one another, and protect the spaces we gather in.
Let us mourn, yes ā but let us also move with purpose, deepen our unity, and never stop using this art form as a tool for both expression and elevation.
š Rest in power to the lives lost.ļæ½š¶ Respect to the women pushing the culture forward.ļæ½šļø Peace and protection to every artist, every fan, every organizer.
Chicago Hip Hop ā weāre still here.
And we still matter. āš½