Hip Hop Until Infinity: An Immersive Tour through West Coast Hip-Hop
by John Kwesi BroadwayIf you find yourself Hollywood swinging one day and you want some real LA flavor, swing over to the Hip Hop Until Infinity exhibit at 6400 Sunset Blvd.
It’s an immersive trip through 50 years of hip-hop, produced by Mass Appeal, the media company behind Hip Hop 50 LIVE at Yankee Stadium, the global photography extravaganza Hip Hop: Conscious / Unconscious, featuring thought-provoking documentaries honoring icons like Wu-Tang Clan, Biz Markie, and Rick James.
An exhibit bathes the room in rap lyrics
While Mass Appeal is a New York-based company, Hip Hop Until Infinity shines a high beam on the vibrant culture of the West Coast as it uplifts hip-hop history. I was pleased to see the first feature of the experience is a room that offers a grounding in the five foundations of hip-hop: MCing, DJing, Graffiti, Breaking, and Knowledge.
MCing represents hip-hop’s unique composition and delivery of lyrics while DJing represents its blend of past and contemporary beats and sounds. Breaking is about dancing, something that continues to make hip-hop stand alone amongst musical genres as the TikTok dance era signifies. Graffiti couldn’t be a more fitting symbol of hip-hop in how it's a blend of rebellion and beautiful street art that captures culture in ways nothing else can. Lastly, there’s knowledge, which refers to the foundation of self-awareness, social consciousness, and commitment to social impact and empowerment through education.
These five pillars of hip-hop provide the context and foundation for the rest of the experience. Portraits of hip-hop legends don the walls as you make your way past the initial section. The feeling of reverence was heavy as I felt called to pause and pay respects to icons like Eazy-E, Lauryn Hill, 2Pac, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Queen Latifah, just to name a few.
The five pillars of hip-hop guide the entire installation
While the portraits feature hip-hop greats from around the country, in the same breath there are walls of album covers that only feature West Coast classics. At this point forward the West Coast centric vibe dominates throughout. Seeing so many influential albums on display is a tangible reminder of West Coast hip-hop’s extensive catalog.
The most interactive feature of the entire exhibit is a “Dogg House” featuring the album art and aesthetic from Snoop Dogg’s 1993 classic album Doggystyle. Three different mix and master machines allow patrons to create their version of some of Snoop's favorite songs from that album like “Gin & Juice” and “Aint no Fun.” Unfortunately, the machine I used didn’t but I was told the other ones did so if you wind up going make sure to test out a couple before giving up like I did.
Following this, the exhibit stamps the West Coast vibrancy with the “How the West was Won” section. The list of California Hip-Hop legends is lengthy. This part fits in just some of the influential people, places, and music that have helped cement West Coast hip hop’s global stature: names like Death Row, Dr. Dre, Delicious Vinyl, KDAY, Nipsey Hussle, and many more.
This exhibit is a dedication to the life and work of Nipsey Hussle
For Millennial or Gen X native Angelenos, like myself, this section is sure to be a treat of nostalgia and joy. And if you’re like me, throw in the inevitable sadness that comes with being reminded of the tragic, untimely murders of two LA legends: 2Pac and Nipsey Hussle. There’s a whole corner dedicated to Nipsey that forces me to wonder what could have been if he were still alive. Fortunately, the next room replaced my sadness with sheer awe.
The bulk of hip-hop history comes from a gigantic room with 360 screen walls that take visitors through 50 years of hip-hop through music, documentary-style videos, art, poetry, and highlights of significant eras throughout hip-hop. While the West Coast gets the most shine, New York and various cities in the “Dirty South” are given nods for their impactful and dominant eras. Other than a special acknowledgment for the ladies of hip-hop shown in this room, there’s almost a complete lack of women being given their own space. This might be due to Hip Hop Until Infinity’s focus on the West Coast, which raises the question: why is Doja Cat LA’s only female rap megastar?
Don’t go to the exhibit expecting an answer. What you can expect though, is a heavy dose of Nipsey Hussle. The final room in this experience features a store that has a whole section dedicated to Nipsey and merchandise from his TMC brand. The store also has cool trinkets and clothes that feature other rappers from all over.
As I left Hip Hop Until Infinity, I couldn’t help but feel a bit spoiled. When I was in high school (2006-2010), L.A. hip-hop had completely fallen off the national scene. Now L.A. hip-hop fans are having a moment to enjoy. Our native son, Kendrick Lamar, has established himself as the “BIG ME” of this generation of rap. And Hip Hop Until Infinity beautifully enshrines L.A.’s historical and contemporary significance within the genre.
