The Source |Vice President Kamala Harris Celebrates Hip-Hop: A Lifelong Love Rooted in American Culture

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Vice President Kamala Harris is more than just a political leader; she’s a devoted admirer of hip-hop, an art form she describes as “the ultimate American art form” that “shapes every aspect of America’s popular culture.” At a recent barbecue celebration marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Harris shared her deep appreciation for the genre, which she says is intertwined with the fabric of American life. “Hip-hop culture is American culture,” Harris declared, captivating a crowd of more than 400 guests. The event, hosted in collaboration with the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Live Nation Urban, featured performances and appearances by stars such as Jennifer Hudson, actor-comedian Deon Cole, and Oakland rap legend Too Short. Harris reflected on hip-hop’s rise from the boroughs of New York to becoming a global cultural force. With roots in African, Caribbean, and Latin rhythms, the genre has fused elements of soul, gospel, R&B, and funk to create something entirely new. “It is a genre. It is music and melody and rhyme,” Harris emphasized. “And hip-hop is also an ethos of strength and self-determination, of ambition and aspiration, of pride, power, and purpose.” Advertisement Growing up in Oakland, California, Harris had a front-row seat...

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