Join us for a special screening of Hustlers Convention (2015, 91 min) in the second installment of our Studio Screen partnership with Maysles Cinema. While largely unknown, the 1973 album “Hustlers Convention” is regarded as a cornerstone in the evolution of Hip Hop. It's creator, Lightnin' Rod, aka Jalal Nuriddin of The Last Poets, is affectionately known in some circles as `The Grandfather of Rap' for his contribution to the genre. The film includes archival footage and specially commissioned animation as well as interviews with some of the key figures connected to the story, including the late Amiri Baraka, Ice T, Melle Mel, KRS One, MC Lyte, executive producer Chuck D. Talkback and Q&A participants to be announced at a later date.

Drawing thematic inspiration from two of the Museum's current exhibitions, Circa 1970 and The Window and the Breaking of the Window, this nonfiction film series addresses the on- and off-screen legacies of socially engaged cultural movements of the 1970s. Presented in partnership with Maysles Cinema, the selected films highlight the methods and leaders people turn to when everyday injustices move them to protest. Each screening will be followed by a talkback session featuring local community organizers, and serve as a space for intergenerational reflection on contemporary protest practices and the ways history is ever-present.

Admission is a $10 suggested donation. All proceeds from the screening will support the Cinema at Maysles Documentary Center, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the exhibition and production of documentary films that inspire dialogue and action.