Video: A Great Day In Hip Hop (1998)

This is truly some fine classic footage for you to enjoy in your holidays! XXL’s A Great Day In Hip Hop cover pays tribute to the fortieth anniversary of the legendary Great Day In Harlem photograph from 1958, taken by Art Kane. The photo featured 57 jazz artists like Art Blakey, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Count Basie and others.

XXL takes the concept to the next level with its tribute. Starring over two hundred hip hop artists, Gordon Parks Jr. took the photo on the very same location in Harlem as the original photo. Black Moon, Jazzy Jeff, Kool Moe Dee, Nice & Smooth, Pete Rock, Ed O.G, MC Shan, Black Star, Hieroglyphics, Blahzay Blahzay and many many more flowed over three stoops.

Watch a documentary on that great day below, followed by XXL’s hip hop version of the original photograph.