Universal Hip Hop Museum Celebrates the Life and Career of Chris Lighty During National Hip Hop History Month

The Universal Hip Hop Museum (UHHM) in association with Monami Entertainment commemorates the inaugural observance of National Hip Hop History Month by celebrating the life and achievements of music executive Darrell “Chris” Lighty. The “Chris Lighty Tribute” on November 23 will be led by his former partner and Monami Entertainment CEO Mona Scott-Young; hosted by his dear friend Sophia Chang, music matriarchitect and founder of Unlock Her Potential, and recording artist Fat Joe; and will celebrate how one of the most influential forces in Hip-Hop continues to drive the culture through leaders like television producers and Hip Hop influencers LL Cool J, 50 Cent, Mona Scott-Young, Fat Joe, N.O.R.E., Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot, and others.

Confirmed Guests:

LL Cool J

50 Cent

Fat Joe

D-Nice

Foxy Brown

Havoc of Mobb Deep

Dres from Black Sheep

and more Violator Artists

Scott-Young shared, “The Universal Hip Hop Museum is a testament to the cultural importance of Hip Hop and I’m honored to be working alongside them during this inaugural observance of Hip Hop History Month to pay homage to a true icon of the culture, my dear friend and partner, Chris Lighty.”

“I am deeply humbled to participate in the tribute to Chris Lighty, whose remarkable life mirrors the trajectory of hip hop itself: from the South Bronx to corporate boardrooms across America to the greatest global cultural force of our lifetime,” Chang added. “He was integral to the dissemination and innovation of the culture. And for me personally, Chris was my Rock of Gibraltar who made me feel welcomed in a world that wasn’t mine and helped set me on my path through Hip-Hop.”

Fat Joe, his friend and one of the mega-artists whose careers he helped sculpt noted he had to be a part of this tribute because Chris saved his life.

He said, “I’m honored to host this tribute to my brother and friend Chris Lighty. If it wasn’t for this man I’d be dead or in jail. HE SAVED MY LIFE. Hip Hop History month would not be complete if we did not acknowledge his contributions to the culture.”

The virtual tribute to “Baby Chris” (as he was affectionately called) will be hosted at the Universal Hip Hop Museum’s current installation “Revolution of Hip Hop,” a pop-up space located across from the location of the new museum at cornerstone of Bronx Point, a 50,000-square-feet waterfront development project in the Bronx, NY.

“The Universal Hip Hop Museum is delighted to recognize the Hip Hop maverick, Chris Lighty during this inaugural commemoration of Hip Hop History Month,” says Rocky Bucano, Executive Director and founder of the museum. “That is why we exist — so that the world never forgets the titans of the culture on whose shoulders we stand.”

This experience will feature three segments of his illustrious career: The Early Years (Road Management with the Native Tongue and work with Red Alert), Rush Management, and then Violator Management and Productions. The production team has curated a “Who’s Who” of special guests to tell fantastic stories about his incredible man and his influence on their careers in addition to UHHM’s robust social media campaign that includes Hip Hop factoids, flyers, and artifacts from our collection, reflections from rap legends, and a partnership with DigiWaxx celebrating DJs.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSAL HIP HOP MUSEUM

The Universal Hip Hop Museum is committed to diversity and inclusion and dispels the notion of toxic masculinity often associated with rap music, street culture, and art. Dedicated to the global preservation, education, and curation of Hip Hop artifacts and culture, the museum will embody textile artifacts, living testimonies, artificial intelligence, and immersive exhibits through our partnership with Microsoft. The Universal Hip Hop Museum was founded by Rocky Bucano and a group of iconic entrepreneurs and artists including Kurtis Blow, Ice T, LL Cool J, Nas, and many others.

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Tags: 50 Cent, Black Sheep, Chris Lighty, D-Nice, Dres, Fat Joe, Foxy Brown, Havoc, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Mona Scott-Young, National Hip Hop History Month, Sophia Chang, UHHM, Universal Hip-Hop Museum, Violator

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.