Explore the Rock Hall’s largest digital exhibit ever with 360-degree videos and artist narratives at rockhall.com
CLEVELAND, OH (September 1, 2020) – Take a virtual walk-through of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s new exhibit, “It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment” online at rockhall.com. The virtual exhibit is a companion piece to the museum’s physical exhibit and is the Rock Hall’s largest virtual exhibit ever, amidst the museum’s 25th Anniversary, which is being celebrated this year.
“We have amazing stories that live within the Rock Hall that spotlight how musical artists have channeled the power of rock & roll to respond to inequality and racism all along, and this is the time to amplify those messages and artists and continue to elevate the conversation,” said Nwaka Onwusa, Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Inside the exhibit, a quote from Nina Simone reads, “An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” The spirit of that statement reverberates in the virtual exhibit and builds on the Rock Hall’s mission to engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock & roll.
The exhibit on rockhall.com includes:
- Virtual walk-through of the physical exhibit with 360-degree videos
- Artist narratives from Chuck D, Fantastic Negrito, Miles Mosley, D Smoke and others
- Exclusive performance and interview video footage from the Rock Hall’s vault
- Artifact images with audio commentary featuring the stories behind them
- Conversations with influential African American photographers whose images are featured
- Educator essays with audio recordings
- Curated Spotify playlist
- Free online learning materials through Rock Hall EDU
Explore Inductees that used their music as a platform for opposing injustice and fighting for equality, such as N.W.A., Public Enemy, Nat “King” Cole, Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, Bob Marley, Tupac Shakur, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Nina Simone, Prince, and others.
Artifacts featured both at the museum and virtually include an Aretha Franklin Valentino dress, Jimi Hendrix guitar strap, James Brown jumpsuit, Mavis Staples dress, N.W.A jacket, and Bob Marley hat. They help to visually amplify the stories behind these social justice trailblazers.
See videos from the Rock Hall’s vault, such as Lauryn Hill performing Nina Simone’s “Ain’t Got No – I Got Life” at the 2018 Induction Ceremony and the I Threes, a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1974 to support Bob Marley & The Wailers, performing “Redemption Song” at the 1994 Induction Ceremony.
Plus, you’ll find rare and never seen before photos captured by influential African American photographers, including Chuck Stewart, Bruce Talamon, Bob Douglas, and others. Among the images, you’ll find a behind-the-scenes photo of boxing champion and activist Muhammad Ali and soul and jazz musician, poet and author Gil Scott-Heron, captured in 1977 by Bruce Talamon, an image of Billie Holiday performing at The Tiffany Club in Los Angles, taken by Bob Douglas, and a photo of Kendrick Lamar performing “Blacker the Berry” and “Alright” at the 2016 GRAMMY Awards, all painting a picture of the rage, hope and empowerment felt by the Black community.
Using Rock Hall EDU, discover free online learning materials, including a video conversation with Chuck D. of Public Enemy discussing the lyrics to “Fight the Power,” the political anthem that was revisited in 2020 to address the current landscape, and an essay by Dr. Daphne Brooks about Aretha Franklin’s career in soul music and the impact it has as a vehicle for messages of empowerment and identity.
The Rock Hall has also been handing the mic over to artists for @rockhall Instagram Live takeovers to elevate the conversation. Recently, Chuck D. of Public Enemy and B-Real of Cyprus Hill discussed how they’ve used music as a platform for change. Upcoming takeovers will be posted to Rock Hall’s social channels.
Visit rockhall.com to access the Rock Hall’s virtual exhibits and free learning materials via Rock Hall EDU. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is open daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with advance tickets required at rockhall.com.
About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock & roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through digital content, innovative exhibits, live music, and engaging programs. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or follow the Rock Hall on Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter (@rockhall), Instagram (@rockhall) and YouTube (youtube.com/rockhall). Long Live Rock!
