The Smithsonian Institution has announced a Kickstarter campaign in an effort to help raise funds for their massive anthology dedicated to hip-hop music and culture.

The collection, Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, will boasts nine CDs (featuring 120 classic rap songs), a special 9th Wonder Digital Remix of the Smithsonian Folkways archives and a 300-page book featuring 10 essays, extensive track-by-track liner notes and never-before-published images.

The Anthology was developed by the Smithsonian along with members of the hip-hop community including artists Chuck D, MC Lyte, Questlove and 9th Wonder; industry veterans Bill Adler and Bill Stephney; author and journalist Jeff Chang; and university scholars and authors Adam Bradley (University of Colorado, Boulder), Cheryl Keyes (UCLA) and Mark Anthony Neal (Duke University).

"The story of hip-hop is one of great triumph and evolution, and it represents the very best of black music tradition," said Chuck D (via Rolling Stone).

The Smithsonian hopes to reach $250,000 in donations to fully complete the project. If they reached their goal, the Anthology will be available by December 2018.

Backers who are funding the project at the $100 level will get a bundled of cool stuff with their Anthology, including a cling-on decal of the box set cover art designed by Cey Adams, illustrated hip-hop trading cards and a one-year subscription to Smithsonian magazine.

At the highest level, backers will be able to get a limited-addition pair of Adidas sneakers designed by Cey Adams; and backers donating $10,000 or more will earn them a tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture led by Questlove.

For more information on how you can get involved, head over Kickstarter.com.

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