DETROIT, MI — The U.S. Postal Service, issued the new Hip Hop stamps to celebrate the many facets of this popular and artistic culture. These Forever stamps are now available at [TOWN] Post Office. “With our latest stamps, the Postal Service is excited to highlight four elements of hip-hop: DJing, Graffiti art, MCing and B-boy,” said [TOWN] Postmaster [FIRST AND LAST NAME]. “It is important to note that socially conscious community leaders and artists have dedicated their energy to educating and preserving these four elements of hip-hop.”

The pane of 20 stamps features the four elements of hip-hop. The bold, digitally tinted images on the stamps are intended to appear in motion. The words “Forever,” “USA,” “Hip Hop” and the name of the element featured appear across the top of each stamp. The stamps are highlighted with a vivid yellow, green, red and black color scheme. The title of the stamp issuance, printed in red and black, is centered on the top of the pane. Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamps, which feature photographs by Cade Martin.

Since its inception, the electrifying music, dance and artistic movement of hip-hop has profoundly influenced other areas of American and global popular culture. Emerging in the mid-1970s in African American and Caribbean American neighborhoods in New York City, teenagers developed hip-hop for neighborhood fun, storytelling and to speak out about social issues overlooked by mainstream society. Over the next several decades, hip-hop grew into a global musical and cultural force. Not only are hip-hop artists found around the world, but each scene also brings its own contributions to the art form and tells its own local stories. Understanding the roots of hip-hop became a defining part of the culture itself, so much so that this knowledge is now widely known as hip-hop’s fifth element.

The Hip Hop stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products at the [TOWN] Post Office or The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), or by mail through USA Philatelic. A variety of stamps and collectibles also are available at ebay.com/stamps.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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