The 50th Anniversary of Atlanta Hip Hop

Curated by Mr. Wattson

To honor five decades of Atlanta’s iconic impact on Hip Hop culture, Mr. Wattson independently curated a powerful museum-style pop-up experience — with the support of Jermaine Dupri and Dallas Austin.

The exhibit paid tribute to the South’s rich musical legacy through rare memorabilia, iconic beat machines, gold and platinum plaques, and legendary artifacts — including Lil Jon’s infamous Crunk Cup and multiple Grammy Awards.

As a visual centerpiece, Wattson curated a stunning photography gallery featuring work from some of the most influential Hip Hop photographers: Jonathan Mannion, Julia Beverly, Steve West, Shannon McCollum, Diwang Valdez, Zach Wolfe, Decat, and Wattson himself.

This pop-up wasn’t just a celebration — it was a living time capsule of Atlanta’s creative spirit and global influence.

An art gallery with white walls displaying numerous framed photographs of Hip Hop artists, some in stylish outfits and some in candid shots. The gallery has a concrete floor, a high ceiling with exposed beams, and equipment cases near the wall.
A collage of various photographs of Hip Hop artists, including portraits, group shots, and candid moments, arranged on a white wall.
A collection of Hip Hop photographs on a white wall, including portraits of individuals, group photos, scenes with African-American themes, and a central image of two people standing in front of an American flag.
An art gallery with white walls displaying various Hip Hop themed photographs, paintings, and mixed media art pieces, industrial-style ceiling and concrete floor, with black equipment cases and artwork poles.
An art gallery with multiple framed photographs of diverse individuals on the white wall, along with a large LED screen displaying a digital graffiti-style text. There is a DJ setup with speakers and a caution sign in front of it, on a colorful rug.
Wall decorated with a framed platinum record, a pair of sneakers, a black hoodie, a black jacket, a large black speaker panel with multiple speakers, a foam figure sculpture with a black ball head and brown face, and a rug with a logo reading "SO SO
Gallery wall with posters, artwork, and merchandise including a black jacket with gold lettering, a black bag, and a black cap, in an industrial-style art studio.
Display board with various posters and magazine covers related to hip-hop music, featuring album promotions, artwork, and event dates, in an industrial-style gallery space.
Art installation in a gallery with a black-and-white framed picture of a hand with a mic, colorful spray cans on the wall, a small white pedestal with black and orange toy guns, and photos on the wall to the left.
Art installation features a white partition with two colorful maps, a red Lil Jay T-shirt, yellow crates, a small cabinet with books and a can, and artwork displayed on the wall in a gallery space.
Wall decorated with numerous framed platinum and gold record awards, some with album covers, in a music-themed decor. A long wooden bar with stools is in front, with drink mixers and cups on it.
Interior of a building with large text welcoming to Atlanta, featuring lyrics of a song about Atlanta, Mr. Wattson standing in the doorway wearing sunglasses, a purple headscarf, a colorful jacket, jeans, and purple shoes,
A brightly colored mural with numerous bold, stylized names of music artists and bands written in red and black on a white wall, with a neon sign that reads 'Atlanta Influences Everything' and an exit door in the background.
Blueprint style poster with orange and black text welcoming to Atlanta, with lyrics about riding on dem thangs, measurements on the side and bottom, and small blocks of additional text.
A word cloud in the shape of the United States with names of popular musicians, artists, and celebrities in red and black text.
A timeline chart of rap albums with artist names and release years from 1985 to 2021.
Collage of various group photos featuring Hip Hop Artists in different settings, including casual indoor gatherings, music studio, and a nightclub, with many individuals showing distinctive fashion styles like jewelry, sunglasses, and streetwear.
Collage of twelve photos featuring various musicians, djs, and people at an outdoor event and indoors, including a ferris wheel at night, a man with tattoos, a man with sunglasses in a car, a DJ equipment, a person with a hat and chains, a person poi
Collage featuring multiple hip-hop artists and performers, including solo portraits, group shots, and a live stage performance.
A collage of images featuring various musicians, artists, and performers, including portraits, group photos, and candid shots.
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Yellow floppy disk labeled 'Verbatim DataLife MF2-DD' with handwritten note stating 'Y'all so stupid, 4/55 SNG#2, 'which is crossed out, and some other writing including a price of $19.90'.
Three audio cassette tapes stacked vertically and a cassette tape case with artistic labels and writing. The top cassette is labeled "Funky Leke Do Do"; the middle cassette is labeled "DJ Smurf Slow Jams" and "MASTER COPY." The bottom cassette is lab
An art exhibit featuring numerous Hip Hop portrait photographs of various individuals, with some wearing sunglasses, in different poses and settings. A glass display case containing audio equipment is in the foreground.
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Lil Jon Music production drum machine with stickers labeled "CRUNK" on the padding and controls.
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Jermaine dupri wearing black sunglasses, a black hoodie, and black pants sits on a small metal stool holding a smartphone, surrounded by professional camera equipment, with a large lyric sheet wall in the background.
Event poster for Fresh Day, a hip hop event at Atlanta 50th Hip Hop. Featuring DJ 88 Wes, with ticket price $10. Held from October 14th to 16th at The Hip Hop Spot, 65 Upper Alabama Street SW, Atlanta, GA. Doors open at 9 PM until 2 AM.
Dallas Austin and ATL Jacob looking at a music production device in a colorful, art-filled room with other people in the background.
Princess from crime mob with braids and sunglasses posing in front of framed photos on a gallery wall, wearing a crop top and camouflage pants.
Kind Edward Jay in a gray suit standing with cross arms in an art gallery with photographs on the wall and equipment cases around him.
A group of diverse people posing for a photo in front of a large race timeline mural, some pointing at their fingers, smiling and making gestures.
Group of nine people posing in front of a large sign that reads 'A-Town DeeJays,' with multiple lists of DJ names in the background.
Two men installing large photographs on an indoor wall, surrounded by ladders and work tools.
Large blue panel with a collage of black-and-white photos of diverse people, including a man with sunglasses, a woman with a microphone, a person with a keyboard, and a group of people standing together, all displayed in a warehouse with shelves and