National Museum of African American History and Culture

MIDI Production Center 3000 Limited Edition used by J Dilla

An AKAI MPC 3000 Limited Edition integrated rhythm machine, drum sampler, and midi sequencer used by record producer and artist J Dilla. The machine consists of a black plastic box with a small screen in the upper left corner, multiple key pads, and a vertical design of black musical notes along the left, center and right of the box. Grey type at the top of the machine reads, [AKAI/professional/Roger Linn/INTEGRATED RHYTHM MACHINE 16 BIT DRUM SAMPLER/MIDI SEQUENCER]. Gold plaque above the type reads, [Limited Edition/MPC3000/EDITION NO. 0449].

MIDI Production Center 3000 Used by J Dilla

This AKAI MPC 3000 Limited Edition integrated rhythm machine, drum sampler, and midi sequencer was used by record producer and artist J Dilla.

Bass guitar used by Norwood Fisher in the band Fishbone

A Peavey T-40 bass guitar (2012.53.1a) and case (2012.53.1b) used by Norwood Fisher, the vocalist and bass guitarist of the American alternative rock band, Fishbone. The guitar has a serial number: [00377681].

Bass Guitar Used by Norwood Fisher of Fishbone

This Peavey T-40 bass guitar was used by Norwood Fisher, the vocalist and bass guitarist of the American alternative rock band, Fishbone.

Customized Sigma Gamma Rho Converse sneakers for member MC Lyte

A pair of gold and blue satin Converse sneakers customized for Sigma Gamma Rho sorority member MC Lyte. The shoes have white rubber toe caps, white rubber with black rubber stripes around the bottom sides, and a black rubber rectangle with the words "ALL STAR" printed in white at the center back heel. The vamp and tongue are faced in gold satin fabric with blue stitching. Text is embroidered in blue on the outside heel of each shoe, with the left shoe reading "MC LYTE" and the right shoe reading "est. 1922" in reference to the sorority's founding year. A stripe of blue satin is attached at the center back heel with gold embroidered text of the Greek alphabet letters for Sigma Gamma Rho. A white fabric tag with black embroidery reading "ALL STAR" is attached to the top of each tongue. The shoes are laced with white nylon shoelaces with clear plastic aglets. The outer soles are of black rubber with nonslip groove designs. The lining of the shoes is made of blue canvas with repeating text in gold reading "1922". The insoles are made from rubber faced in white canvas with "CONVERSE" printed in black ink near the heel. Size 8 and materials are printed onto the reverse of each tongue.

MC Lyte's Customized Sigma Gamma Rho Converse

American rapper MC Lyte celebrates her 49th birthday today! These gold and blue satin Converse sneakers were customized for her as a Sigma Gamma Rho sorority member. A stripe of blue satin is attached at the center back heel with gold embroidered text of the Greek alphabet letters for Sigma Gamma Rho.

Black beaded dress designed by Zelda Wynn and worn by Ella Fitzgerald

This black beaded full-length gown was designed by Zelda Wynn and worn by Ella Fitzgerald. The dress is made from black synthetic crepe fabric that is hand beaded with black glass seed and bugle beads, and black sequins in a floral vine design. The bodice is short-sleeved and has a scoop neck in the front and a V-neck in the back. There is a metal zipper in the center back that goes to the hip, and a hook-and-eye at the top of the zipper. The gown has a princess cut waist, but there is no seam at the waist. The gown has a column skirt with a slit on the proper right side that is 24 1/2" high and contains a rounded hem. At the top of the slit, there is a pre-tied black velvet bow that is sewn to the dress.The dress is fully lined with a black synthetic fabric, except at the bottom of the sleeves. The hem of the sleeves, the interior neck line, and the skirt hem are finished with black ribbon. The designer label on the interior proper left back of the bodice is cream with black embroidered text and reads: "Zelda Wynn / NEW YORK, N.Y."

Dress Worn by Ella Fitzgerald

This black beaded full-length gown was designed by Zelda Wynn and worn by jazz artist Ella Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996). In a career spanning seven decades, she created a legacy of acclaimed performances and a celebrated body of work.

Red, white, yellow, and blue Nike sneakers worn by Big Boi of Outkast

A pair of white Nike sneakers with glitter red, blue, and yellow sections worn by Big Boi of Outkast. The low-top sneakers have white leather on the perforated top toes, the front half of the side vamps, the upper portion of the heel cap, and on the facing of the tongues. The lower part of the toe cap has blue glitter panels. The area of the shoe surrounding the tongue has red glitter panels that extend down over the side and back heel. A yellow glitter panel is sewn at the center back heels and to form the Nike swoosh logo on the outer and inner sides of the shoes. The shoes lace with white nylon laces with clear plastic aglets. At the bottom of the laces nearest the toe cap on each shoe is a silver-toned metal tag looped through the lace with engraved text reading "AF-1 / '82". A white fabric tag with white embroidery is sewn around the top edge of each tongue that reads "NIKE / AIR / AIR FORCE 1" with manufacturer's style, patent, and place made embroidered on the portion of the tag on the inside of the tongue. White embroidery reading "NIKE AIR" is done on the white portion of the heel caps. The thick soles are made from white rubber with one thin glittery blue line around the heels. The bottoms of the soles have ridged indentations and a spin spot on the toe and heel. The Nike logo is impressed into the sole bottoms at the arch of the foot. The shoes are lined with a white synthetic fabric. A white paper tag with black printed text is sewn at the interior inside shoe near the tongue with style and size information, as well as a barcode and a manufacture date range of 11/10/05 to 12/19/05.

Nike Air Force 1 Sneakers Owned by Big Boi

These white Nike sneakers, with glitter red, blue, and yellow sections, were worn by Big Boi of the Atlanta hip hop group Outkast.

Lacquer disc of Billie Holiday master recordings

This transcription disc, dated 1952, has master recordings of Billie Holiday. Holiday sings “My Man”, “Lover Come Back To Me”, Stormy Weather and Yesterdays. Details of the recording process are heard with the technician listing takes, Holiday singing a retake of Stormy Weather, as well as making a note to herself before singing. The sound quality of the master recording disc is exceptional.An instantaneous transcription disc, the label notes the Client as Norman Granz, the Artist as Billie Holiday, and the Date as 7/28/52. The record contains the master recordings of the songs "My Man," "Lover Come Back to Me," "Stormy Weather," and "Yesterdays."Consists of: Instantaneous Transcription Disc (a) and Original Disc Sleeve (b).2010.50.2a: Instantaneous transcription disc.The recording on side 1 begins with a man listing the take of the first recording, "C 839 take 6." The first song on the recording is "My Man." As a man lists the take for the next song, "C 840 take 4," Billie Holiday can be heard making a quick note before she begins to sing "Just press off because [Inaudible]" She then sings "Lover Come Back to Me."The recording on side 2 begins with a man listing the take "C 841 take 2." Billie Holiday begins singing "Stormy Weather," but the song is cut short after approximately 20 seconds. The take is re-listed as "C 841 take 3." Holiday then begins again with "Stormy Weather." The listing of the second song on the recording is distorted, but should be C 842 take 2. Holiday then sings "Yesterdays."2010.50.2b: Original disc sleeve. audiodiscs / Audio Device Inc. / 444 Madison Avenue / New York, N.Y.

Laquer Disc of Billie Holiday Master Recordings

American jazz legend Billie Holiday was born on this day in 1915. This transcription disc, dated 1952, contains master recordings of Holiday singing “My Man”, “Lover Come Back To Me”, "Stormy Weather" and "Yesterdays." Details of the recording process are heard with the technician listing takes, Holiday singing a retake of Stormy Weather, as well as making a note to herself before singing.

Wooden clapper from the Cotton Club promoting Ethel Waters

This is a wood clapper instrument with black etched type on front and back. Consisting of three pieces of wood, two small rectangles are attached via thin metal strips to the large paddle-shaped base, one on each side. There is black type on both small wooden rectangles. The type on one side of the clapper reads, "The Cotton Club/ Aristocrat of Harlem/ Lenox Ave. & 142nd St. / Phone Bradhurst 2-7767-1687." On reverse side type reads, "Hear/ Ethel Waters/ Sing/ Stormy Weather/ Geo. Dewey Washington." There is a decorative border in black ink around both rectangles. There is text on the reverse side at one end of the rectangle that reads "National Bo [illegible] Co. / [illegible] west 64th [illegible]."Transcribed by digital volunteers

Cotton Club Clapper Promoting Ethel Waters

This is a wood clapper instrument from Harlem's famed Cotton Club. The text on one side of the clapper reads: "Hear Ethel Waters Sing Stormy Weather."

St. Louis Blues

Sheet music for the song St. Louis Blues by W. C. Handy. The cover is orange with black text. Written in the center of the page is: [featured in Lew Leslie's Black birds of 1928.] An image of three birds on a branch is below this. Written at the bottom of the page is: [Published by / HANDY BORS MUSIC CO. Inc / “Home of the Blues” / 1545 Broadway New York.]

Sheet Music for "St. Louis Blues"

1928 sheet music for the hugely successful song "St. Louis Blues" by the "Father of the Blues," W. C. Handy (November 16, 1873 – March 28, 1958).

Felt hat with medallion worn by Bo Diddley

Hat worn on stage by Bo Diddley for the last 15 years of his career, including his final performance on May 12, 2007. The hat is made of black felt, with brown trim around the brim and a wide black ribbon band featuring the silver medallion bearing the name "BO" designed by Diddly himself. There are several other decorative elements attached to the band: a round "BLUES" pin, a Smokey Bear pin, a Florida Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry pin, and a gold pin in the shape of an alligator.

Bo Diddley's Hat

This hat was worn on stage by Bo Diddley (December 30, 1928–June 2, 2008) during the last 15 years of his career, including his final performance on May 12, 2007. The hat is made of black felt, with brown trim around the brim and a wide black ribbon band featuring the silver medallion bearing the name "BO" designed by Diddly himself.

Jacket and pants worn by MC Hammer in music video for "They Put Me in the Mix"

This blue jacket (.1) and Hammer pants (.2) were worn by the rapper and dancer MC Hammer in the 1988 music video for his song "They Put Me in the Mix."(.1): Blue cropped jacket with full-length sleeves. The jacket is made of a bright blue synthetic fabric and has a notched collar. The front of the jacket has an open front style with a single button closure at the bottom center front. The large circular gold button has a raised design of an eagle holding an anchor surrounded by stars, and is attached with the eagle upside down. The button closes around a loop on the proper left front made from the blue fabric. The sleeves are wide at the shoulder and taper toward the wrist. The jacket is fully lined with a white synthetic fabric. There are thick shoulder pads attached between the facing and lining fabric.(.2): Blue Hammer style pants with black waistband. The pants are made of the same blue synthetic fabric as the jacket. The legs are wide-legged with a slight taper toward the hem, ending at the ankle. A gusset is sewn between the legs to make the crotch loose and baggy. The blue fabric is gathered at the top and joined to a wide black elastic waistband, which is seamed at the center back. The pant legs are hemmed with black thread. The pants are not lined.

Jacket and Pants Worn by MC Hammer

This blue jacket and Hammer pants were worn by the rapper and dancer MC Hammer (born March 30, 1962) in the 1988 music video for his song "They Put Me in the Mix."

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