Here's a Brian Laird show music history special on this August 11th, considered the 50th anniversary

of the day hip hop was born in the Bronx as we do some music conversation and some of

your oral history calls at 212433 WNYC.

We're taking it all the way back to the beginning of hip hop 50 years ago today in New York City.

And as we've been talking about all morning, New York City is the undisputed birthplace of hip

hop. And as such, there are so many places around the city dating back to the late 70s, the 80s,

and over the decades that have been physical staples joining us to reminisce about some of the

stomping grounds around the city and how they have fostered a sense of community for hip hop

enthusiasts is Miles Marshall Lewis, pop culture critic, music journalist, and author of several books

most recently, promised that you will sing about me, the power and poetry of Kendrick Lamar.

And he has an article on the website Vital City called The Challenges of Hip Hop History.

That's new. Miles, hi, welcome to WNYC, Happy August 11th.

Hey there, thank you very much. Thanks for having me on the show and happy August 11th to you too.

Can you tell us a little bit about your own childhood first?

Am I seeing you grew up in Coop City in the Bronx?

That's true, that's true. I actually lived on Marcy Police in the South Bronx until the

age of four and then moved to Coop and basically spent the rest of my formative years there.

But I had two sets of great grandparents who lived in different sections of the South Bronx,

called Well Avenue, and where else, St. Mary's Park, or near St. Mary's Park, I guess I've seen

ends. So I was always like constantly there, thinly avenue as well, just sort of revisiting the

South Bronx for thanksgiving and sleepovers and Christmases and then going to the Northeast

in Coop City. And before we take you downtown to some of the Manhattan clubs,

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