Q-Tip Joins Kennedy Center as Hip-Hop Director

Hip-hop also will be added to the center's core programming.

Hip-hop is heading to the Kennedy Center — this time, to stay.

Fresh off last year's critically acclaimed performance by Kendrick Lamar with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Tuesday that veteran rapper and producer Q-Tip will join the institution as its artistic director for hip-hop culture. Hip-hop also will be added to the center's core programming.

The announcement was made as the Kennedy Center released details of the more than 2,000 performances that will be staged there during the 2016-2017 season.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and soprano Renee Fleming also are taking on new roles at the Kennedy Center. Both will serve as at-large artistic advisers.

The center also will mark the 100th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's birth.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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