The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has established a Hip-Hop Culture Council to help expand the center's hip-hop initiatives and deepen the public's knowledge of this community. Q-Tip has been named artistic director and advisor-at-large.

This news comes a few months after LL Cool J became the first hip-hop artist inducted into the Kennedy Center Honors. The founding members are all considered royalty when it comes to the legacy of hip-hop.

Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Kool Bob Love, Common, Fab 5 Freddy, Grandmaster Caz, Robert Glasper, Grant Hill, J.Period, Jason King, Kierna Mayo, Large Professor, LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Mimi Valdes, Pharoahe Monch, Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, Xavier “X” Jernigan and 9th Wonder round out the solid composition of the council. 

Q-Tip has served as Hip-Hop Culture Center's artistic director since 2016. "I want to begin at the beginning of the culture and help people see its roots, better understand its present, and responsibly create its future," he said.

Billboard reports that the Wild Style 35th anniversary will be the first public performance by hip-hop supergroup August Greene, which features  Robert Glasper, Common and Karriem Riggins, following the release of the trio's self-titled debut album. The event will also premiere the film “Rock Rubber 45s” and host a party featuring DJs Rich Medina, Stretch Armstrong, DJ Spinna and Bobbito García spinning together for the first time.

In an interview with Billboard at the Kennedy Center Honors in December, LL Cool J said, “Hip-hop is very high art.” He continued, “when I think of some of the things that Dre does, that Tip does, that Tribe does, when you think about Questlove and the Roots, these guys are great musicians and they make great music. It’s not everybody’s taste, and that’s OK. Because everybody doesn’t like everything, and that’s all right.”

Check out Q-Tip's message below.