WU-TANG CLAN HEADLINES SIRIUSXM AND PANDORA’S HIP-HOP 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
From a one-of-a-kind day of events to special programming, SiriusXM and Pandora honor the greatest music and talent through the decades with “For the Love: 50 Years of Hip-Hop”
New York, NY - July 25, 2023 - SiriusXM and Pandora today announced “For the Love,” a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, culminating in an unforgettable day of events on August 10 in Queens, New York, headlined by legendary hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan.
While both SiriusXM and Pandora are home to both hip-hop legends and rising stars of the genre year-round, “For the Love” celebrates the impact and listener love of hip-hop with limited-time channels, exclusive content and specialty programming that honor transformative figures in the genre. Listeners across the nation can hear a variety of special programming, in addition to a wide range of hip-hop channels and shows. See below for upcoming specialty programming across SiriusXM and Pandora.
“Hip-hop is not just music, it's a culture which has defined and redefined our society through the years. Wu-Tang Clan has contributed so immensely to the hip-hop community, making a lasting impact on so many people's lives, and we are honored to share this momentous occasion with these music pioneers and have them take the SiriusXM stage to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of hip-hop,” said Joshua “J1” Raiford, Vice President, Music Programming, SiriusXM/Pandora.
FOR THE LOVE: A DAY OF CELEBRATIONS HONORING HIP-HOP
For fans in the New York area – as well as listeners tuning in across the nation – SiriusXM and Pandora are teaming up for a full day of celebrations at The Knockdown Center in Queens, a consequential borough in hip-hop history, on Thursday, August 10.
The Knockdown Center will play host to Wu-Tang Clan and more as they take the stage for a one-of-a-kind concert event, SiriusXM and Pandora Present For the Love: 50 Years of Hip-Hop.
The event will be open to SiriusXM subscribers and Pandora listeners, 21+. RSVP is required for an opportunity to attend the in-person show HERE.
Sponsors of this unique concert event include Cricket Wireless, Martell, Modelo Especial, The Clorox Company, and Volkswagen.
Considered by many to be the greatest hip-hop group of all time, Wu-Tang Clan have been touring as a unit since their debut record — Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) — came out in 1993. The now triple-platinum release vaulted the New York City group with songs like "C.R.E.A.M." (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) and "Protect Ya Neck" that are about as recognizable as anything in the rap canon.
Earlier in the day, For the Love: Community Giveback Sponsored by Cricket invites fans to the Knockdown Center to celebrate hip-hop’s next 50 years with local students, families, and businesses in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens. Throughout the afternoon, the event will feature a wide range of festivities from breakdancing performances and double-dutch to live, interactive broadcasts of SiriusXM Hip-Hop Nation’s Gray Rizzy and The Heat’s DJ Steel. SiriusXM personalities Mina SayWhat, Torae, Coach PR, D-Stroy, Bugsy, DJ Superstar Jay, DJ Wallah, and DJ Taj will also be on hand during the event to host, DJ, and more. Food will be provided by a host of local, BIPOC-owned and operated food trucks.
As part of the Community Giveback, to keep inspiring the next generation of young talent, SiriusXM has teamed up with Cricket to present the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens with a check in support of the organization's impactful work, as well as backpacks filled with school supplies. Boys & Girls Club members in attendance will not only get to take home a backpack, but will also get to design and customize it to suit their style.
“Cricket Wireless is pleased to be a part of this event that celebrates influential figures who have shaped the very essence of hip-hop. We’ll continue to help inspire future music creators through our support of HBCU music programs and initiatives with Boys & Girls Clubs of America,” said Tony Mokry, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Cricket.
The donation to Boys & Girls Club is part of SiriusXM Cares’ mission to contribute to organizations and take actions which promote and further social equality, education, hiring, and combat racial injustice.
“At SiriusXM, we are proud to be at the forefront of culture, and as we approach the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we are thrilled to be celebrating the past, present, and future of this influential genre with the community in Queens and its local Boys & Girls Club,” said Nicole Hughey, SVP, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Social Impact, SiriusXM. “The music and artists of hip-hop have impacted so many of us in a meaningful way, and we’re honored to give back to the next generation of changemakers across the nation.”
FOR THE LOVE: 50 YEARS OF HIP-HOP PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
SiriusXM’s Specialty Programming:
The Hip Hop Top 500 Countdown- From the forefathers of rap who laid the foundation - all the way up to the latest stars who keep the culture going, you'll hear the full range of hip-hop! Whether it's a back-in-the-day anthem or a current top streaming hit, you'll get them all, as we count up to the biggest Hip-Hop song ever. The Hip Hop Top 500 Countdown will be available on SiriusXM channel 104 from August 1- 7.
Queens of Hip-Hop will be available to subscribers in their cars on channel 104 from August 22 through August 31. The channel features music from today’s biggest female hip-hop artists including Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj. Listeners will also hear music from the queens who’ve paved the way including Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim. Queens of Hip-Hop is available to subscribers year round on the SXM App.
Rock The Bells Radio: Furious 5 Weekend Hip-Hop Icons Editions
- Cube, Big Daddy Kane, Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Caz, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, MC Lyte, Doug E Fresh, Rev Run, DJ Red Alert and more share five of their favorite hip-hop artists and songs. Furious 5 Weekend Hip-Hop Icons Editions airs on LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Radio on the SXM App starting August 10.
Shade 45: #HipHop50: Mobb Deep Retrospective
- Havoc, one half of the legendary rap group Mobb Deep, discusses his life, legacy and music with Coach PR and will also perform in front of a studio audience. Mobb Deep Retrospective with Havoc airs on SiriusXM’s Shade 45 (Ch. 45) August 5-9.
Shade 45: #RespectTheDJ with DJ Tony Touch, D-Stroy, DJ Enuff, and Crazy Legs
- Celebrating #HipHop50 with an ode to our DJ legends that paved the way. DJing is the one of the four elements of hip-hop and this conversation will provide insight and deliver mixes from some of the men and women who were pillars on the 1 & 2's like Kool DJ Red Alert, DJ Charlie Chase, DJ Baby J and more. Celebrate the DJ for hip-hop 50th on SiriusXM's Shade 45 (Ch. 45) August 19.
Pandora Specialty Programming:
SiriusXM Pandora Digital Exclusive Special: Leave Your Legacy: 50 Years of Hip Hop
- Hip-hop legends will share their origin stories, music ingenuity, and path they paved towards creating history.
Pandora Stations Celebrating Hip-Hop 50 Include:
- Hip Hop Forever: Celebrates 5 decades of hip-hop.
- Top Shelf Rap and R&B: The hottest and latest hip-hop and R&B.
- VIP Rap: The spot for Pandora’s premier hip-hop.
- 90's Hip Hop: Classics from rap’s golden era.
- 2000s Hip Hop: Hip-hop’s biggest artist and songs from 2000 – 2009.
Eligible customers can get their first three months of SiriusXM streaming for free. Click here to sign up and experience all that SiriusXM has to offer. See offer details.
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About Wu-Tang Clan
Considered by many to be the greatest hip-hop group of all time, Wu-Tang Clan have been touring as a unit since their debut record — Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) — came out in 1993. The now triple-platinum release vaulted the New York City group with songs like "C.R.E.A.M." (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) and "Protect Ya Neck" that are about as recognizable as anything in the rap canon.
Founded in New York City’s Staten Island in the early 1990s, the Wu-Tang Clan is comprised of members RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, and the deceased Ol Dirty Bastard (ODB). Their name is a reference to a 1983 martial arts film.
Their live sets are a family affair, with every member of the crew representing their lyrical contributions to the Wu’s eight studio albums, as well as notable cuts from the Wu-Tang solo discography. With the omnipresent Wu-Tang "W" flanking all angles of the stage, there’s a familiarity to Wu-Tang Clan’s music that gives their shows unique mass appeal.
Whether they’re delivering the 36 Chambers record front to back on the album’s 25th Anniversary Tour, or tracks from GZA’s seminal Liquid Swords and Raekwon’s mafioso-minded Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., or honoring the legacy of their departed brother, Ol Dirty Bastard, every Wu-Tang Clan show is a celebration of prolific careers as individuals and especially as the most storied group in hip-hop history.
About Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
SiriusXM is the leading audio entertainment company in North America with a portfolio of audio businesses including its flagship subscription entertainment service SiriusXM; the ad-supported and premium music streaming services of Pandora; an expansive podcast network; and a suite of business and advertising solutions. Reaching a combined monthly audience of approximately 150 million listeners, SiriusXM offers a broad range of content for listeners everywhere they tune in with a diverse mix of live, on-demand, and curated programming across music, talk, news, and sports. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com.
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Released July 25, 2023