SiriusXM and Pandora honor the greatest music and talent through the decades
SiriusXM and Pandora have announced “For the Love,” a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop, culminating in an unforgettable day of events on August 10th in Queens, New York, headlined by legendary hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan.
While both SiriusXM and Pandora are home to both hip hop legends and rising stars of the genre year-round, “For the Love” celebrates the impact and listener love of hip hop with limited-time channels, exclusive content and specialty programming that honor transformative figures in the genre. Listeners across the nation can hear a variety of special programming, in addition to a wide range of hip hop channels and shows.
“Hip hop is not just music, it’s a culture which has defined and redefined our society through the years. Wu-Tang Clan has contributed so immensely to the hip hop community, making a lasting impact on so many people’s lives, and we are honored to share this momentous occasion with these music pioneers and have them take the SiriusXM stage to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop,” states Joshua “J1” Raiford, Vice President, Music Programming, SiriusXM/Pandora.
For fans in the New York area – as well as listeners tuning in across the nation – SiriusXM and Pandora are teaming up for a full day of celebrations at The Knockdown Center in Queens, a consequential borough in hip hop history, on Thursday, August 10th. The Knockdown Center will play host to Wu-Tang Clan and more as they take the stage for a one-of-a-kind concert event, SiriusXM and Pandora Present For the Love: 50 Years of Hip Hop.
The event will be open to SiriusXM subscribers and Pandora listeners, 21 and up. RSVP is required for an opportunity to attend the in-person show.
Considered by many to be the greatest hip hop group of all time, Wu-Tang Clan have been touring as a unit since their debut record — Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) — came out in 1993. The now triple Platinum release vaulted the New York City group with songs like “C.R.E.A.M.” (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) and “Protect Ya Neck” that are about as recognizable as anything in the rap canon.
Earlier in the day, For the Love: Community Giveback Sponsored by Cricket invites fans to the Knockdown Center to celebrate hip hop’s next 50 years with local students, families, and businesses in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens. Throughout the afternoon, the event will feature a wide range of festivities from breakdancing performances and double-dutch to live, interactive broadcasts of SiriusXM Hip Hop Nation’s Gray Rizzy and The Heat’s DJ Steel. SiriusXM personalities Mina SayWhat, Torae, Coach PR, D-Stroy, Bugsy, DJ Superstar Jay, DJ Wallah, and DJ Taj will also be on hand during the event to host, DJ, and more. Food will be provided by a host of local, BIPOC-owned and operated food trucks.
As part of the Community Giveback, to keep inspiring the next generation of young talent, SiriusXM has teamed up with Cricket to present the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens with a check in support of the organization’s impactful work, as well as backpacks filled with school supplies. Boys & Girls Club members in attendance will not only get to take home a backpack, but will also get to design and customize it to suit their style.
The donation to Boys & Girls Club is part of SiriusXM Cares’ mission to contribute to organizations and take actions which promote and further social equality, education, hiring, and combat racial injustice.
SiriusXM’s specialty programming includes The Hip Hop Top 500 Countdown on channel 104 from August 1-7; Queens of Hip Hop recognizing today’s biggest female hip-hop artists including Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj and others from August 22-31; Rock the Bells Radio airing Furious 5 Weekend Hip Hop Icons Edition; Shade 45 honoring Mobb Deep and others.
Pandora will air the special, Leave Your Legacy: 50 Years of Hip Hop where hip hop legends will share their origin stories, music ingenuity, and path they paved towards creating history. Pandora stations celebrating the genre’s 50th anniversary include Hip Hop Forever, Top Shelf Rap and R&B, VIP Rap, 90s Hip Hop and 2000s Hip Hop.
