1520 Sedgwick Avenue

Building in New York City known as the birthplace of Hip Hop September 2025 1520 Sedgwick Avenue Complete 1520 Sedwick Ave., Bronx, New York1.JPG Front of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue Front of the building. The Bronx, New York City, New York United States 1967http://a836-acris.nyc.gov/Scripts/DocSearch.dll/ViewImage?Doc_ID=BK_7620031600910 Assignment of mortgage New York City Automated City Register Information System September 4, 2010 119,919 ft2 m2https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1520-Sedgwick-Ave_Bronx_NY_10453_M41890-87386 1520 Sedgwick Ave, Bronx, NY 10453 realtor.com® 18 Residential 1520 Sedgwick Avenue is a 102-unitJanuary 10, 2010 http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/hip-hop-landmark-falls-on-hard-times Hip-hop landmark falls on hard times The Real Deal dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111007213016/http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/hip-hop-landmark-falls-on-hard-times October 7, 2011 September 4, 2010 apartment building in the Morris Heights neighborhood of the Bronx in New York City. Described in The New York Times as a long-time "haven for working class families", it has been historically accepted as the birthplace of hip hop.Borgya Andrew September 3, 2010 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/nyregion/05hiphop.html Museum Quest Spins On and On The New York Times September 4, 2010 The first mortgages for units at 1520 Sedgwick were made in 1967. Following a long period of neglect and shady dealings in the 1990s and 2000s, observers described the building as a symbol of the city's affordable housing crisis. History The creation of the Cross Bronx Expressway uprooted thousands in the Bronx during the early 1970s, displacing communities, and fostering white flight.Shapiro, Peter Rough Guide to Hip-Hop 2nd London Rough Guides 2005 978-1-84353-263-7 iv 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, which received its first mortgage in 1967, is located on the Expressway. Hip Hop birthplace 1520 Sedgwick Avenue has been called "the birthplace of hip hop." As hip hop grew throughout the Bronx, 1520 was a starting point where Clive Campbell, later known as DJ Kool Herc, presided over parties in the community room at a pivotal point in the genre's history.David Gonzalez https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/21/nyregion/21citywide.html Will Gentrification Spoil the Birthplace of Hip-Hop? The New York Times May 21, 2007 July 1, 2008((Jennifer 8.)) Lee http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/tenants-might-buy-the-birthplace-of-hip-hop Tenants Might Buy the Birthplace of Hip-Hop The New York Times January 15, 2008 July 1, 2008 DJ Kool Herc is credited with helping to start hip hop and rap music at a house concert at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue on August 11, 1973.Jeff Chang (journalist) Chang, Jeff Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation Can't Stop Won't Stop (book) St. Martin's Press New York 2005 978-0-312-42579-1 68–72 At the concert he was a DJ and MC in the recreation room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue.Birthplace of Hip Hop https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/investigation/birthplace-of-hip-hop/ February 24, 2009 History Detectives History Detectives PBS 6 11 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090226194116/https://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/investigations/611_hiphop.html February 26, 2009 Sources have noted that while 1520 Sedgwick Avenue was not the actual birthplace of hip hop – the genre developed slowly in several places in the 1970s – it was verified to be the place where one of the pivotal and formative events occurred that spurred hip hop culture forward. During a rally to save the building, DJ Kool Herc said, "1520 Sedgwick is the Bethlehem of hip-hop culture."July 18, 2007 http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2007/07/18/18277644.aspx 1520 Sedgwick Avenue to be Recognized as Official Birthplace of Hip-Hop AllHipHop.com dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090208201859/http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2007/07/18/18277644.aspx February 8, 2009 September 3, 2010 On August 11, 1973, Clive Campbell aka DJ Kool Herc spun the turntables at a back-to-school birthday party for his sister Cindy Campbellhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/13/dj-kool-herc-block-party DJ Kool Herc DJs his first block party (his sister's birthday) at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, New York Batey Angus 2011-06-12 The Guardian en-GB 0261-3077 2016-12-06 held in the recreation center at 1520 Sedgwick. After spending months perfecting a new technique involving "playing the frantic grooves at the beginning or in the middle of the song" with two turntables, a mixer, and two copies of the same record, Campbell unveiled the technique at his sister's party. After renting the recreation room for 25 dollars, Cindy charged 25 cents for females and 50 cents for males to attend. "I wrote out the invites on index cards, so all Herc had to do was show up. With the party set from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., our mom served snacks and dad picked up the sodas and beer from a local beverage warehouse." With the exhibition of his new style, Campbell's friend Coke La Rock demonstrated another innovation called rapping. Attendees, or people who later falsely claimed to be there, include Grandmaster Caz, leader of the Cold Crush Brothers, Grandmaster Flash, Busy Bee, Afrika Bambaataa, Sheri Sher, Mean Gene, Kool DJ Red Alert, and KRS-One.Gonzales Michael A. September 28, 2008 http://nymag.com/anniversary/40th/50665/ The Holy House of Hip Hop New York September 4, 2010 In February 2016, a sign that reads "Hip-Hop Blvd" stands outside 1520 Sedgwick Avenue.https://www.npr.org/2023/07/11/1186407223/50-years-ago-teenagers-partied-in-the-bronx-and-gave-rise-to-hip-hop 50 years ago, a summer party in the Bronx gave birth to hip-hop : NPR Lonsdorf Kat Summers Juana Jarenwattananon Patrick npr.org 2023-07-11 2025-05-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20230711224146/https://www.npr.org/2023/07/11/1186407223/50-years-ago-teenagers-partied-in-the-bronx-and-gave-rise-to-hip-hop 2023-07-11 live Ownership and maintenance Starting in the early 2000s, building owners threatened to turn 1520 into high rent units. Senator Schumer led a rally in 2007 focused on maintaining the affordable costs of the housing in order to maintain its working-class roots.Wellborn Mark July 23, 2007 http://www.observer.com/2007/birthplace-hip-hop-danger-losing-affordable-housing-label Schumer to Lead Rally to Keep Birthplace of Hip Hop Affordable dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110616093046/http://www.observer.com/2007/birthplace-hip-hop-danger-losing-affordable-housing-label 2011-06-16 The Observer September 4, 2010 The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recognized the building as the "birthplace of hip hop" on July 5, 2007.Lee ((Jennifer 8.)) July 23, 2007 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/23/an-effort-to-honor-the-birthplace-of-hip-hop/ An Effort to Honor the Birthplace of Hip-Hop The New York Times September 3, 2010July 23, 2007 http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=12307 1520 Sedgwick Avenue Honored as a Hip-Hop Landmark Today dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100424025306/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=12307 April 24, 2010 XXL Magazine September 3, 2010 Starting in 2007 the building's owners sought to repeal the status afforded to the building by the Mitchell-Lama Housing Program, which allowed it to maintain rent control for low-income and working class residents. Despite work by groups such as the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board and the Tenants and Neighbors Association to preserve the building's Mitchell-Lama status, the courts allowed the building's status to be repealed.Lee ((Jennifer 8.)) September 26, 2008 http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/judge-rules-sale-of-bronx-hip-hop-building-can-proceed/ Court Rules Sale of Bronx 'Hip-Hop' Building Can Proceed The New York Times September 4, 2010 In 2008 the building was sold to a real estate group that included Mark Karasick, a prominent real estate investor, which intended to turn the building into market-rate housing. However, after the United States housing bubble burst, a period of neglect and threats of forced evictions daunted residents,Dolnick, S. and despite promises to the opposite, the building fell into decline.http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/01/19/nyregion/1247466533739/a-building-in-decline.html?ref=foreclosures A Building in Decline dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120322224217/http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/01/19/nyregion/1247466533739/a-building-in-decline.html?ref=foreclosures March 22, 2012 The New York Times. September 4, 2010 In 2010 the city's Housing Development Corporation provided a $5.6 million loan to allow Winn Development and a new group called Workforce Housing Advisors to buy the building's mortgage from Sovereign Bank for $6.2 million. Rafael E. Cestero, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, said they supported the sale in order to help provide sustainable housing for working-class families. On November 7, 2011, following a foreclosure auction with no active bidders, Workforce Housing Advisors were able to take title of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. Several residents, who were present at the auction along with tenant advocacy group Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, wept with joy when the auctioneer announced no bids had been registered. John Crotty of Workforce Housing Advisors told the New York Times that his group intends to renovate the distressed building and work with tenants to recognize its importance. The group's investors are more interested in steady, secure returns than in making money quickly.http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/for-birthplace-of-hip-hop-new-life/ For Birthplace of Hip-Hop, New Life November 7, 2011 Speri, Alice. The New York Times Some money for renovations will be provided by New York City's department of Housing Preservation and Development, and the Housing Development Corporation. See also Roots of hip hop References 2 External links Modern image of the building "Cradle of Hip-Hop Saved from NYC's Gentrification Wave" Facsimile of the original note from the 1973 house party at 1520 Sedgwick. 40 50 50 N 73 55 28 W title Category:Residential skyscrapers in New York City Category:Skyscrapers in the Bronx Category:Apartment buildings in New York City Category:Residential buildings completed in 1967 Category:History of hip-hop Category:Residential buildings in the Bronx