As a part of Women’s History Month, The Trap Museum in Atlanta is honoring women and their contributions to hip-hop.
“[The] Trap Music Museum honored Women’s History Month by dedicating and reflecting on the often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history,” the museum’s press release reads.
The “Honor Roll” exhibit spotlights some of the culture’s biggest names, including MC Lyte, Roxanne Shante, Salt-N-Pepa, Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj, Lakeyah, Queen Latifah, Kimora Lee, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Saweetie, City Girls and more.
The exhibit features portrait hangings as well as iconic album covers and magazine covers from the 90s, through to the present day.
The TMM was co-curated by Antwanette McLaughlin, who also serves as the creative director, T.I., visual artist D.L. Warfield and Peterson.
“Young people don’t connect unless they can see it or touch it,” McLaughlin told Black Enterprise of the vision for the museum back in 2019. “They’re not going to go the long route of Googling, researching, and reading articles. They want to look at a picture, touch it, talk about it, or insert themselves into it. You touch millions of people that way per se rather than having something uploaded online.”
Trap music’s reputation is still one facing heavy criticism, with some believing that the subgenre is responsible for glorifying violence and the drug culture overall.
“There are all kinds of stuff is in the world that I don’t necessarily agree with but it’s interesting,” McLaughlin said. “You learn something from it. We’re getting people to come see art. People come in here who have never been to an art show. That’s beauty. If you don’t bring anything to the community, then they won’t know that they can do something else outside of the community. That’s what we do: take a seed and make it blossom.”
The “Honor Roll” exhibit debuted on March 1.
