A hip hop museum is opening in 2018

Harlem, New York is set to become the home of a hip hop museum in February next year.

Plans to build a space - called the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame - dedicated to the genre have been given the green light, with phase one of the development to include a museum space, a café, gallery, visitors bureau and gift store.

Hip Hop Hall Of Fame is spearheading the project, looking to raise $150 million to support the development, and believes the acquisition process will be complete in the coming months.

A hotel, second museum space, shopping mall, concert arena, arcade and sports bar are set to be added at a later date as part of the second phase, taking the building to a total of 20 storeys.

According to the press release, the museum exhibits will "offer important and unique documentation of hip hop's development and its impact on social trends."

It also reads: "The HHHOF will also have an educational component to the program that enables 25,000 NYC public school children per year to visit the facility on field trips with museum tours.

"The HHHOF facility will produce hundreds of permanent and part time jobs, and provide job training, valuable internships, and community volunteer opportunities, with a goal to host up to 100+ live events, shows, concerts, and educational programs annually for people of all ages.

"It is estimated to contribute approximately a $350M socio-economic impact to New York City and the Tri-State region annually when phase II of the development is completed."

Check out our History of Hip Hop playlist here.

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Digital News Editor, follow him on Twitter