Chronicling Reggae and Hip-Hop’s Crossroads and Communi-ty Media as Historical Archives from the Ground Up

In this chapter, I first establish some historical background concerning reggae’s arrival and subsequent reception in New York. Thereafter, I illustrate details of the “Hip Hop x Dancehall Takeover” event, which took place at the VP Records Retail store on Jamaica Avenue, Queens, on April 23, 2022, during one of my extended research stays in NewYork. I use this as a starting point to highlight the activities of two longstanding New York-based archivists, ambassadors and activists of reggae and hip-hop culture in attendance: Ralph McDaniels, founder of landmark hip-hop television show, Video Music Box, established in 1983; and Shaun Walsh, who in the following decade founded Flatbush, Brooklyn-based community media channel Whatz Up NY TV.