The .HipHop domain is more than a web address — it’s digital real estate built for the culture. Watch this video to see how .HipHop is inviting fans, artists, entrepreneurs, and investors worldwide to co-own the official top-level domain for Hip Hop and help shape its future online.

This is your opportunity to reclaim control of Hip Hop’s digital identity, align cultural and financial capital, and back a platform bridging Web2 and Web3 — with the potential for real returns as adoption grows.

Featured Lead Investor: DJ Madout, a cultural innovator and respected voice in music, joins as Lead Investor in this campaign.

Reserve your spot now: wefunder.com/dothiphop

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Disclaimer: This communication is “testing the waters” under Regulation Crowdfunding. No money or other consideration is being solicited, and if sent, will not be accepted. No offer to buy securities can be accepted, and no part of the purchase price can be received, until Form C is filed and only through Wefunder’s platform. Any indication of interest involves no obligation or commitment.

Digiwaxx brought the pulse of the underground to the skyline with its Next Up Experience on Wednesday night, June 25. Held at The Penthouse in Hell’s Kitchen, this rooftop showcase blended New York City’s energy with the raw ambition of emerging hip-hop and R&B artists. The result? A night of electrifying performances, community connection, and forward-thinking exposure.

View Article – Digiwaxx – New York City -New New York

DistroFest brings music industry pros together at ACX1 Studios

View Article – Shore Local News – Atlantic City -New Jersey

.HipHop is proud to be a sponsor of the DJ Kay Slay Rolling 200 Deep video drop!

Published By : Paul Resnikoff – Digital Music News

Dot Hip Hop is a domain name registry with a seemingly simple tech proposition. But beyond its focus on .HipHop domain names and website addresses, Dot Hip Hop is honing in on IP ownership, empowering artists, and uplifting the community via financial literacy.

On its surface, Dot Hip Hop has a simple business model. The company facilitates the ownership of .HipHop domain names and website addresses for artists, labels, or anyone tied into the hip hop community or culture of hip hop. Dig a bit deeper, however, and this is a company that’s all about advancing hip hop culture and empowering its creators.

“There’s a lot to the story of our dedication to the community and the culture,” Managing Director Monte Cahn told Digital Music News, who noted that .HipHop domain names offer an opportunity to gain greater ownership over musical creativity. “We’re trying to re-educate people about the importance of having your own intellectual property, your own identity, utilizing it properly, and being able to monetize it.”

Cahn also points out how most people wrongly believe that they own intellectual property rights simply because they’re using Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter to post their content. “These platforms own everything that you do and say. You can be cut off and deleted and even hacked by others while using these platforms,” Cahn explains.

According to company CMO Scott Pruitt, “Artists with a .HipHop domain name gain a digital identity that aligns with hip hop.”

Speaking about the history of hip hop artists in general, Cahn highlighted how artists’ ownership was compromised by the original contracts signed with agents and record labels. “That’s what we’re about, giving ownership rights back to the hip hop community and culture. For artists, DJs, MCs, a record label, or even somebody that loves hip hop,” Cahn added. Just recently, Dot Hip Hop joined forces with DMN to accelerate their mission.

Ajene Watson, also a Managing Director of Dot Hip Hop, relayed that the company is aiming to elevate hip hop culture in three ways: provide ownership via equity, promote economic opportunity via financial literacy, and redistribute wealth through a corporate community investment program.

“We are creating an environment where the culture can own equity in Dot Hip Hop, LLC — the registry that holds the license to operate the .HipHop extension. Secondly, we’re promoting financial literacy and economic opportunity by teaching the community about digital real estate — researching, analyzing, buying, developing, and selling these domain names,” Watson explains.

Watson also highlighted how the third, equally important goal of wealth redistribution ties into what the company is doing, adding, “A portion of our revenue actually goes to the endeavors of the culture — whether it’s money going into financial initiatives like the Biz Markie’s Just A Friend Foundation, ‘For The Culture Fund’ by Beats, Rhymes & Relief, even diabetes associations, retirement funds for hip hop’s founders, and other actions that uplift the community, like education, et cetera.”

Watson further states how Dot Hip Hop is focused on continually developing this model and ‘anticipate that funds will ultimately go into a trust, and then be dispersed appropriately.’

“We’ve built this into our business process to ensure that the community is fed by their own efforts, and every registration increases community value and opportunity,” Watson concludes.

Pruitt believes many hip hop artists don’t fully grasp the concept of top-level domains, or the extent to which they allow artists to strengthen their brands.

“What’s on the right side of the ‘dot’ can actually relate to what’s on the left side of the ‘dot’ and that makes for a much better brand,” Pruitt explained.

Comparing .HipHop with other domains and domain extensions, Pruitt points out a notable distinction, saying, “.HipHop is an open extension so anybody can go and register a .HipHop domain name, but others may come with a few restrictions. You might have to provide articles of incorporation or fill out Nexus forms to attest that you’re a legitimate music business, or work within a specific industry.”

Pruitt also highlighted that the domain .HipHop is capable of representing a global community that isn’t limited to just music, but can also include dance, graffiti art, contemporary art, gaming, sports, fashion, attitude, general business, and a way of life.

“Hip hop is everyday life, and .HipHop can represent a global community of over 1 billion people, whereas most other internet extensions don’t represent any specific identity or inclination.”

It’s not everyday that branding decisions and domain name extensions are mentioned in the same sentence, but Pruitt sees an untapped connection. “This is a more meaningful domain. It gives everyone an opportunity to match what they represent — hip hop. The address will allow people to automatically make the hip hop association.”

Pruitt says Dot Hip Hop also aims to tackle the animosity that can exist between different rappers, camps, and groups. The company is also dedicated to supporting hip hop-related charities.

“We want to be the catalyst that brings people within the hip hop community together. We want to help encourage a camaraderie so they can start to lay aside all the beef and disagreements. With a .HipHop domain, they’re not saying that they’re East Coast or West Coast. They’re not saying that they’re Bronx or Queens, it’s their hip hop,” Pruitt claims.

As part of the company’s mission, Dot Hip Hop aims to support charities ‘to help out people in the inner city.’ Pruitt says this ideology is built into the core philosophy of their business, adding, “We’re here to help strengthen the hip hop community and its founders and the people who really made hip hop happen.”

On August 11th, the Mayor of New York hosted a breakfast reception at Gracie Mansion to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of hip hop. The event was sponsored by Dot Hip Hop.

At Gracie Mansion, Mayor Eric Adams spoke passionately about how the last 50 years have changed the cultural landscape. “Hip hop was more than just music. It changed the attitude. From block parties to carrying crates of records, to music in the park, to having to draw your own flyers, to doing the $5 event, the $3 cups, to trying to be able to make your music real and having to deal with some of the contracts. Look at it 50 years later, and the mayor of the most powerful city on the globe is a hip hop mayor.”

Guests at Gracie Mansion included Sha-Rock, Kool Herc, Kool DJ Red Alert, Ralph McDaniels, and many others. As part of their tie-in, Dot Hip Hop gave .HipHop domain names to major hip hop artists that were being honored at the event.

Alongside several other celebratory events throughout August, Dot Hip Hop also sponsored Beats, Rhymes & Relief for a three-day event called The Battle Royale at Times Square on August 13-15th. Beats, Rhymes & Relief For The Culture Fund is a charity organization that utilizes the arts to raise awareness and support for global humanitarian relief projects.

Pruitt explains that the event featured a competition amongst various pillars of hip hop — beatboxing, DJing, MCing, graffiti artists, and breakdancing — adding, “It was the first time ever that the city of New York had a hip-hop-related event right in Times Square.”

Watson highlighted Dot Hip Hop’s plans to collaborate with schools to bring financial literacy and education to teenage students and their parents. “We spoke with an NYC police captain and have committed to doing this at least twice a month for this school year, all across the city,” Watson relayed, further adding that education, awareness, and financial literacy will help diminish crime.

“We’re getting a lot of opportunities to provide support. Not just with money, but with social support in the community,” stated Watson.

As a result of that ambition, Dot Hip Hop sponsored the GOAT Classic event on August 19th, featuring a basketball clinic for kids ‘to give back to the community with basketball games and music.’ Moreover, the domain registry company has aligned with the Biz Markie’s Just A Friend Foundation to sponsor the Pencils and Dreams school supply drive.

The company has also joined and offered support to other organizations such as the Hip Hop Alliance, headed by Kurtis Blow in collaboration with Chuck D, KRS-One, and other hip hop legends. Pruitt says the Hip Hop Alliance support is part of broader efforts by Dot Hip Hop to establish social benefit programs such as healthcare plans for some of the original hip hop artists that were misrepresented by record companies — with some still not owning their intellectual property.

At the end of the day, Dot Hip Hop is all about community, associations and partnerships, monetization, and seizing control over IP.

Focusing on that aspect, Pruitt recalled how Cahn, ‘a near-thirty-year domaining industry vet,’ reshaped the domain name game in the 90s. Cahn purchased and sold domain names — in a manner similar to physical real estate investing.

Cahn participated in the first million-dollar domain name sale by reselling wallstreet.com for $1.03 million. Later that same year, Cahn sold autos.com for $2.2 million. These historic sales positioned Cahn as a key figure in the early multi-billion-dollar industry involving the buying, brokering, auctioning, and sale of domain names.

Pruitt explains why a similar opportunity might be up for grabs again, and why this aftermarket for .HipHop domain names exists. “Every domain name is a unique piece of property. It’s digital real-estate driven by scarcity and value.”

To prevent potential squatters from registering artists’ names, Dot Hip Hop has reserved tens of thousands of .HipHop domain names to protect established hip hop artists, songs, and labels from profit-seeking flippers.

Jeff Neuman, Chief Operating and Legal Officer of Dot Hip Hop, says, “We want the person who buys the domain name to actually be the one using it, and have the right to profit from it.”

Neuman — like Cahn — has also been involved in the domain name industry since its early beginnings. Neuman used the domain name system to safeguard brand owners’ intellectual property rights. Dot Hip Hop also relayed that most of the intellectual property enforcement mechanisms used by brands today against domain name owners ‘were either created by Neuman directly, or through working groups that he either led or actively participated in.’

Neuman says, “We want .HipHop to grow responsibly.”

Pruitt added, “When .com came along, there was essentially a land grab and now around 200 million .com names are registered — and buying and selling .com domain names is a multi-million dollar business. Right now, .HipHop has just under 2,000 registrations.”

With an eye on the evolving future of domain names, art, branding, and the live music performance arena, Pruitt reveals that the company has launched Web2 and Web3 integrations.

“When someone registers their domain name in .HipHop, they also gain the functionality of Web3 without having to use a third-party website address,” Pruitt explains, adding, “You’ll be able to mint and create NFTs right from our website. Put in your .HipHop address and claim the blockchain or Web3 version of it.”

Hip hop artists that are keen to be early adopters of the .HipHop domain extension can register at www.Get.HipHop. Besides securing the domain as digital real estate, artists can personalize their website, create custom email addresses, and even set up a cryptocurrency wallet address through the new Web2 to Web3 bridge interface.

Most ICANN-accredited registrars now carry .HipHop domains. Now, the big opportunity is to broaden awareness of an asset that may become threaded into the future global footprint of hip hop culture.

Link to Article Source

Published By : Seth “Digital Crates” Barmash in limitless-magazine.com

Dot Hip Hop LLC offers the Hip Hop community a chance to claim and own their online presence by registering their own .HipHop domain name

Domain extensions (i.e. .org, .com, .biz) are often viewed as simple punctuation at the end of a website address. But they are more than just a label. They are a digital asset, a digital brand, and a valuable digital space. Dot Hip Hop, LLC, a domain name registry that manages the Top-Level Domain (“TLD”) extension .HipHop, is giving everyone in the Hip Hop community a chance to claim their place online and contribute to the culture, with access to .HipHop domains.

As the Hip Hop community celebrates 50 years of transforming global culture, it’s the perfect time to kick off a new online era. An era when the communities of Hip Hop regain control of their culture.

“Before meeting the domaining experts on our team, I had no clue that any one person or group could hold the right to operate a domain extension such as ‘.com’; something so quintessential to the entire internet’s functionality,” says Ajene Watson, Managing Director of Dot Hip Hop, LLC. “Then I came to learn that one of these domain extensions was .HipHop. It immediately became a matter of duty for me, because if there were ever a time and space for my culture to reclaim its birthright, it would be right now through the ownership of Hip Hop online and in the digital world.”

Dot Hip Hop is the combined brainchild of several experts in the domain name industry, along with a bonafide child of Hip Hop culture.

Monte Cahn, a seasoned master of the domain name business, identified a unique opportunity to secure the .HipHop domain extension. Monte then recruited the domain name registry legal and operations expert, Jeffrey Neuman. Neuman’s initial role was to manage the very difficult task of getting the transfer of the .HipHop domain extension to Cahn approved by the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”)—the legal body responsible for the allocation of Top-Level Domain (“TLD”) extensions such as .HipHop.

Unexpected happenstance required Monte to identify an additional partner. In a twist of fate, just days after establishing Dot Hip Hop, LLC on August 11, 2021, Hip Hop’s recognized birthdate, Cahn was introduced to Ajene Watson, an investor, advisor, and CEO of DigitalAMN. Watson, whose current focus at DigitalAMN is on developing business strategies and platforms to assist everyday people establish and grow transferable wealth, was born on August 11, and grew up in the Bronx neighborhood credited with the birth of Hip Hop.

Under a unique set of circumstances, Cahn and Watson agreed to forge a relationship and within hours of meeting, joined forces to grow and deliver the .HipHop domain extension. Cahn educated Watson on the business potential of the domain naming space, and Watson provided Cahn with personal insight into the importance of putting Hip Hop culture first. With the aid of domain name marketing whiz, Scott Pruitt, Dot Hip Hop, LLC began its campaign to reach key members of both the domain naming and Hip Hop communities to participate in building one of the few, globally cultural domain extensions known to date.

The need for a solid, community-owned online home for Hip Hop is clear. Websites and email addresses matter, and are key business tools and Intellectual Property (“IP”) assets. For creators and businesses, having an active social media presence isn’t enough, as accounts get hacked, platforms control data monetization and social media platforms can get shut down or change policies. The only way creators can ensure they have full control of their content and data, and can monetize their audience is by owning their platform, a valuable part of their IP. Dot Hip Hop aims to build an entire online community and network of .HipHop spaces–all individually owned and operated but belonging and contributing to the larger cultural scene.

Other cultural groups have been recognized by domain names in recent years, such as .gay for LGBTQIA+ content. But Hip Hop, globally, is more than music, transcending nearly all socioeconomic and religious boundaries. It is unique as it’s all-encompassing, embracing music, culture, community, fashion, art, attitude, and more. And it’s big: Global revenue for media, fashion, music, and all the other sides of Hip Hop has added up to more than $19 Billion. It appeals to a diverse demographic worldwide, making up over 33% of streamed content and putting it in first place among musical and dance genres and very close in fashion. It has set the standard for fashion, dance, and pop culture at large.

Yet those at the forefront of creating and currently driving the culture haven’t had enough of an ownership stake or a say in its future.

“I believe, if a group is given the opportunity to control its foundation, it can maintain it,” states Monte Cahn, Dot Hip Hop Managing Director. “Registering domain names, in addition to providing a valuable digital asset through content, has the potential to spark participation, ownership, and a sense of pride in belonging to the Hip Hop community.”

Dot Hip Hop aims to turn the .HipHop extension into a uniting force for the community, where the community writes its own destiny. Furthering this mission of empowerment, the Dot Hip Hop team is developing plans to forward education workshops teaching the community how to research, analyze, buy, and sell domain names (i.e. digital real estate). It’s also creating digital tools that help creators regain control of their data and IP and easily connect their .HipHop addresses to digital wallets and other aspects of blockchain and Web3. And lastly, .HipHop is working with initiatives and organizations that support Hip Hop culture, to drive a portion of its revenue back into the communities of Hip Hop. From housing to scholarships for higher education, to caring for elder founders that contributed greatly to the “pillars” of Hip Hop, Dot Hip Hop, LLC is committed to financially supporting viable solutions for socioeconomic advancement throughout the communities of Hip Hop.

“At a business level, .HipHop is about selling domain registrations; that’s how money is made!” explains Watson. “At a human level, however, it’s about the betterment of society. We believe that by offering ownership of Hip Hop through equity and education on digital real estate, and by reclaiming control of Hip Hop’s online identity and community endeavors worldwide, Hip Hop will re-find its purpose as an extended voice of the 60’s movement, which ultimately wasn’t aimed simply at freedoms for Black Americans, but for the greater observance of love, peace, unity and prosperity amongst all people. Look at how far the culture of Hip Hop has come, only to realize we were kinda lost. But now with .HipHop, maybe…, just maybe, we’re finally found.”

Link to Article

Published By : Seth “Digital Crates” Barmash in hiphopsince1987.com

The .HIPHOP Domain Name Registry is excited to announce that it has added the world’s largest domain name registrar, GoDaddy, to its list of accredited partners accepting domain registrations for the .HipHop domain name extension.

The .HipHop domain extension was created to serve the Hip Hop community, including artists, musicians, DJs, producers, and fans. By GoDaddy joining .HipHop in its effort to help support the advancement of Hip Hop culture online, GoDaddy customers now have access to a unique platform offering meaningful connections to the Hip Hop community.

Dot Hip Hop, LLC was founded in 2021 to serve as the exclusive ICANN Accredited domain name registry for the .HipHop top-level domain. Its mission is to give artists, entertainers, musicians, athletes, brands, the culture and community of Hip Hop, the ability to further brand their identity with domain names that fully represent and encapsulate who they are. Hip Hop is, and has always been, more than music. Hip Hop represents an eclectic culture, which has defined several generations around the world for nearly 50 years, and will continue to do so for many years to come.

“The .HipHop domain name really showcases the possibilities with domain name extensions,” said GoDaddy President, Domains Paul Nicks. “It is ideal for businesses and individuals looking to establish a unique and authentic online presence that reflects their passion for Hip Hop culture. GoDaddy is committed to empowering our customers with the tools and resources they need to succeed online, and the .HipHop domain extension is a perfect example of that.”

“We’re excited to add GoDaddy to our list of partners and bring the .HipHop domain extension for websites, email, and Web3/Blockchain applications to a wider audience,” said Monte Cahn, Managing Partner and Director of the .HIPHOP Registry. “This partnership offers a tremendous opportunity to showcase the passion and creativity of the Hip Hop community and reach new audiences on a global scale.”

The .HipHop domain extension provides a platform for individuals and businesses to showcase their love for Hip Hop culture, connect with like-minded individuals, and promote their brand and services within the community. The addition of GoDaddy to .HIPHOP’s list of registrar partners will enable more people to participate in this global and dynamic community, and strengthen the connection between Hip Hop culture and the wider online world.

“Ajene Watson, Managing Partner and Director of the .HIPHOP Registry said, “GoDaddy is an industry staple. A name people trust and naturally gravitate toward when registering a domain name. I’d like to thank GoDaddy for understanding the plight of the communities comprising Hip Hop, and being a supporter of the culture. Demonstrated in both the entrepreneurial and businesses programs they currently offer, and of course by accepting the .HIPHOP Domain Name Registry as a partner too now carry the .HipHop domain extension. This is a big day for Hip Hop culture!”

In an exclusive chat with HipHopSince1987.com they explained the personal motivations behind this project and the importance of building up this platform.

Stay tuned to HipHopSince1987.com for more news about .HipHop as they develop their platform to meet the demands of emerging technology.

To register a .HipHop domain name, visit www.get.hiphop or any of our accredited registrar partners, including GoDaddy, for assistance.

Link to article

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., May 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The .HIPHOP Domain Name Registry is excited to announce that it has added the world’s largest domain name registrar, GoDaddy, to its list of accredited partners accepting domain registrations for the .HipHop domain name extension.

The .HipHop domain extension was created to serve the Hip Hop community, including artists, musicians, DJs, producers, and fans. By GoDaddy joining .HipHop in its effort to help support the advancement of Hip Hop culture online, GoDaddy customers now have access to a unique platform offering meaningful connections to the Hip Hop community.

“The .HipHop domain name really showcases the possibilities with domain name extensions,” said GoDaddy President, Domains Paul Nicks. “It is ideal for businesses and individuals looking to establish a unique and authentic online presence that reflects their passion for Hip Hop culture. GoDaddy is committed to empowering our customers with the tools and resources they need to succeed online, and the .HipHop domain extension is a perfect example of that.”

“We’re excited to add GoDaddy to our list of partners and bring the .HipHop domain extension for websites, email, and Web3/Blockchain applications to a wider audience,” said Monte Cahn, Managing Partner and Director of the .HIPHOP Registry. “This partnership offers a tremendous opportunity to showcase the passion and creativity of the Hip Hop community and reach new audiences on a global scale.”

The .HipHop domain extension provides a platform for individuals and businesses to showcase their love for Hip Hop culture, connect with like-minded individuals, and promote their brand and services within the community. The addition of GoDaddy to .HIPHOP’s list of registrar partners will enable more people to participate in this global and dynamic community, and strengthen the connection between Hip Hop culture and the wider online world.

“Ajene Watson, Managing Partner and Director of the .HIPHOP Registry said, “GoDaddy is an industry staple. A name people trust and naturally gravitate toward when registering a domain name. I’d like to thank GoDaddy for understanding the plight of the communities comprising Hip Hop, and being a supporter of the culture. Demonstrated in both the entrepreneurial and businesses programs they currently offer, and of course by accepting the .HIPHOP Domain Name Registry as a partner too now carry the .HipHop domain extension. This is a big day for Hip Hop culture!”

About the .HIPHOP Registry
Dot Hip Hop, LLC was founded in 2021 to serve as the exclusive ICANN Accredited domain name registry for the .HipHop top-level domain. Its mission is to give artists, entertainers, musicians, athletes, brands, the culture and community of Hip Hop, the ability to further brand their identity with domain names that fully represent and encapsulate who they are. Hip Hop is, and has always been, more than music. Hip Hop represents an eclectic culture, which has defined several generations around the world for nearly 50 years, and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Link to Original Press Release

We’re excited to announce an upcoming brunch we’re hosting for Dot Hip Hop Partners (“DHHP”)! This event is a major milestone for the Hip Hop community, as it marks the first minority owned investment group that has come together to participate in the ownership of the domain registry, Dot Hip Hop, LLC.

Dot Hip Hop, LLC is the licensed holder and operator of the Top-Level Domain (gTLD), .HipHop (https://get.hiphop/). This newly relaunched domain extension is a game changer for the Hip Hop community, as it allows individuals, businesses, and organizations to have a unique and memorable online presence that identifies with the culture of Hip Hop. It’s an opportunity to stand out and showcase your brand in the digital world. It will also be a unique opportunity to learn all about digital real estate and how to build a lucrative domain name portfolio leveraging gTLDs like .HipHop.

DHHP is comprised of mostly Black and Brown non-accredited investors who have come together to participate in a cultural campaign to reclaim the ownership of Hip Hop. Ownership of the .HipHop domain registry (Dot Hip Hop, LLC) is an important step forward in making sure that the Hip Hop community has a greater say in the direction and future of the genre, particularly in the Web2 and Web3 space.

The Dot Hip Hop Partners’ brunch is intended to celebrate the members of DHHP and thank them for leading the charge in galvanizing and motivating the community of Hip Hop to participate in the development of .HipHop in a meaningful way—through real ownership, and by establishing a brain trust to guide its development. This event is expected to bring together cultural/business leaders, Hip Hop artists, and community activists to discuss the importance of ownership and true representation of the community in its own culture.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn more about DHHP and its members, the .HipHop domain extension, how .HipHop can be used to support the Hip Hop community, and how others can participate in the actual ownership of the .HipHop domain registry (Dot Hip Hop, LLC (https://get.hiphop/)). The event will take place on January 22nd, 2023, at The Bronx Public, a Hip Hop Themed restaurant-bar located at 170 W 231st St, in the birthplace of Hip Hop… The Bronx.

This DHHP Brunch is a private event, but we encourage everyone in the Hip Hop community to be part of this historic moment by following and participating in the event via social media. This is an opportunity to learn how to invest in the future of Hip Hop, and to make sure that this global genre continues to thrive for the next 50 Years to come!

Follow the Dot Hip Hop Partners’ Brunch event and be a part of the cultural campaign to reclaim ownership of Hip Hop!

GUERRILLA GROOVES RADIO interviews our very own Ajene Watson, live from the South Bronx, talking about reclaiming the culture of Hip Hop.