- Leslie L.
- Friday, August 18, 2023
Columbia, SC, has played host to some of hip-hop's most iconic figures. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, let's take a stroll down memory lane and revisit some of the genre's defining moments in the city from Richland Library’s Local History Digital Collections.
Public Enemy: Voices of Revolution
Date: September 23, 1992
Venue: Williams Brice Stadium (opening for U2)
Highlight: Known for their politically charged lyrics, Public Enemy was seen as an unexpected choice to open for U2, but the crowd of 30,000 that night at Williams Brice was loud in welcoming Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and DJ Terminator X to the stage.
Legacy: With protest anthems like “Fight The Power,” Public Enemy’s revolutionary approach helped bring social consciousness to hip-hop.
2 Live Crew: Unfiltered Expression
Date: July 13, 1990
Venue: Manifest Discs & Tapes (autograph signing) & Township Auditorium (performance)
Highlight: 2 Live Crew's visit to Columbia drew widespread attention due to the contentious ban of their album "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" in Richland County, following its classification as obscene by 5th Circuit Solicitor James Anders. Demonstrators, including Senator Theo Mitchell, gathered outside The Township before the group's show, holding signs with slogans such as "Anders, as Nasty as He wants to Be," as reported by The State newspaper.
Legacy: Ending up in the Supreme Court, 2 Live Crew’s legal battles against censorship and the fight for free speech established a path for hip-hop artists to express themselves freely through music, unburdened by legal consequences.
MC Hammer: U Can't Stop This!
Date: October 5, 1990
Venue: Carolina Coliseum
Highlight: The same year MC Hammer dropped his chart-topping single "U Can't Touch This," he was awarded the key to the City of Columbia. At his performance at Carolina Coliseum, he took the stage to the “2001” theme as over 10,000 fans cheered on. Openers for the show were En Vogue and Vanilla Ice. ice baby….sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
Legacy: MC Hammer played a pivotal role in bringing hip-hop to the pop mainstream with his genre-blending music, style, and stage performance.
Chuck D of Public Enemy: Inspiring the Next Generation
Date: January 26, 1991
Venue: C.A. Johnson High School
Highlight: In his iconic Los Angeles Raiders hat and flanked by rappers Pop Diesel and Crunch, the crowd of 800+ high schoolers roared when they saw Chuck D that day. While he was in town, he helped judge a talent show at the Township Auditorium and led a Stop the Violence march from Benedict College through Five Points to Martin Luther King Jr. Park.
Legacy: Beyond music, Chuck D's commitment to community engagement showcases the potential of artists to influence and inspire beyond the stage.