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Collage of five diverse artworks from the Hammer Museum Collections side by side. From left to right: 1) Contemporary painting of two embracing figures with surreal elements. 2) Post-impressionist style painting of trees with vibrant blues and greens. 3) Black and white illustration of a face with intricate patterns. 4) Japanese woodblock print style image of a figure in a checkered robe. 5) Photograph of a couple dancing, the woman in a black dress and the man in white

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A an image of a boombox combined with a filmmaker's clapper board
Program Series

Summer Night Cinema: 50 Years of Hip Hop

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of hip hop, and we're celebrating with six nights of films curated by critic Ernest Hardy. The selection of feature films, documentaries, and music videos illuminates the brutal politics and glittering dreams at the root of hip hop, shining a light on both familiar films and those deserving of far greater attention, with a special nod to L.A. as a major contributor to hip hop's legacy and influence.

Ernest Hardy's criticism has appeared the New York Times, Village Voice, Vibe, Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, and LA Weekly. He's a contributor to 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die and Classic Material: The Hip Hop Album Guide. His collection of criticism, Blood Beats Vol. 1: Demos, Remixes and Extended Versions, was a recipient of the 2007 PEN Beyond Margins Award. He has written profiles of directors Jordan Peele, Barry Jenkins, and Ryan Coogler, and has penned liner notes for collections by Chuck D, Curtis Mayfield, and Chet Baker, among others. He currently teaches at CalArts, and his forthcoming collection of short stories will be published by Writ Large Press.

Sponsored by Carla Emil and Rich Silverstein.