The Birthplace of Hip Hop Harlem and The Bronx
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
New York City, USA
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Hip-hop music began in New York City, and there's no better way to explore this iconic music genre than this insider’s tour led by one of rap's Grandmasters. Visit more locations than you could possibly find on your own as you embark on an interactive musical journey through Manhattan, Harlem, and the Bronx to uncover the origins and evolution of hip-hop and rap music.
- Travel by coach, departing from a convenient Fifth Ave location
- Gain insight into the origins of the music from your Grandmaster guide
- Discover the sites of historic battles and music video locations
- See the Graffiti Wall of Fame and the Apollo Theater in Harlem
What's Included
- Transport by luxury coach
- Live entertainment
- Celebrity guide
- Autographs
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Souvenirs
- Gratuities
- Luggage or stroller storage
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 1220 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029, USA
In front of the Museum of the City of New York
End point
- Staging With Style NYC2300 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10027, USA
Near 125th Street Subway Station Accessibility to trains, A, B, C & D.
Itinerary
Board the comfortable coach and get ready to be schooled (and entertained) by this four-hour tour that focuses on the origins and history of hip-hop, a genre of music that began in New York City.
With your Grandmaster guide, trace the history and influences of the genre, from the early pioneers such as Grandmaster Caz and DJ Red Alert to the Sugarhill Gang, Public Enemy, and Jay-Z.
Visit rap-related sites such as the Graffiti Wall of Fame, the legendary Apollo Theater, Rucker Park and much more. Stop into a soul food restaurant for lunch (at own expense), and partake in the 'Show Your Skills' segment of the tour to get dressed up in bling.
This tour is essential for hip-hop enthusiasts and those who love them. Fun for the whole family.
With your Grandmaster guide, trace the history and influences of the genre, from the early pioneers such as Grandmaster Caz and DJ Red Alert to the Sugarhill Gang, Public Enemy, and Jay-Z.
Visit rap-related sites such as the Graffiti Wall of Fame, the legendary Apollo Theater, Rucker Park and much more. Stop into a soul food restaurant for lunch (at own expense), and partake in the 'Show Your Skills' segment of the tour to get dressed up in bling.
This tour is essential for hip-hop enthusiasts and those who love them. Fun for the whole family.
1
Hush Hip Hop Tours
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Harlem
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
3
Apollo Theater
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Bronx
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Tour operates rain or shine
- Lunch is not included but available for purchase. Vendors accept cash only so please plan accordingly
- Tours do not include a lunch stop
- During the months of January through March reconfirmation is required due to uncertainty of New York City's weather conditions.
- Contact us directly before purchasing for booking with a service dog.
- One (1) infant per group may receive complimentary admission; additional infants will require a paid child ticket.
- Strollers, car seats, buggies and luggage cannot be accommodated, as storage space is not available.
- Assisted walking devices, including walkers and wheelchairs, cannot be accommodated on this tour. For guests requiring accessibility support, we recommend exploring our private tour offerings, which can be tailored to individual needs.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 461 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Judy_S, Aug 2026
This experience was amazing , full of fun, engaging with the tour guide who was fantastic, learned a lot, saw more than expected and I highly recommend this excursion if you want to learn about the History of Hip Hop. It was amazing to ride through the Bronx & Harlem seeing all the historical spots . Getting on & off the bus to get a first hand experiences was a great surprise & walking around & standing where famous performers once stood & performed was awesome . I could go on & on about this experience but to put it in a brief sentence, it’s totally worth taking this excursion, wear comfortable shoes & your sun glasses & enjoy the ride. I’d take this excursion again just to absorb the hip hop culture & see & experience Harlem along with riding thru the Bronx. This is a winner & if you are reading this put this excursion on your list .
slyle70, Aug 2026
Listen, a hiphop education was learned on this trip. Razor is an amazing tour guide and was so knowledgeable about the history of hiphop. Enjoyed rolling through Harlem, Spanish Harlem, The Bronx, the Apollo Theater, Ruckers Park, 106th & Park, and all the other historic places. This is a MUST DO tour if you are ever in NY.
Kimberly_T, Jun 2026
It was a great tour. The tour guide (Razor) kept us entertained and very informed about NY. I would definitely recommend this tour to others. Also, the driver John was great and we felt safe in his care.
Ebonique_M, May 2026
Highly recommend this fun, engaging, and thorough tour! Our guide Rayza was knowledgeable, high energy and super talented. We all really got an immersive experience in art, culture and history of Harlem and the Bronx. Highly recommend if you want a tour experience that extends beyond typical NY sightseeing!
antoniojohnson721, May 2026
It's a great tour very informative, and the guides were the best 👌 Mike and John teach so much and in a fun way, it was a wonderful experience. We'll definitely go again and bring friends! Mike is very passionate about the things he talked about we loved it! Thank you!
Ruben_A, May 2026
I would put The Birthplace of Hip Hop Tour on my must do list for New York. Mike C was our host and Tuffy was our driver. The two of those guys were so knowledgeable about the neighborhoods, artists, and the early days of hip hop. Mike C was there for the birth of Hip Hop and hearing his personal accounts and stories were amazing. Standing on the hallowed grounds of Hip Hop on Sedgwick Ave while Mike C recounted the stories was the highlight of the tour. This is a tour of heartfelt passion and emotion surrounding the world of hip hop.
Jacob_G, May 2026
This tour was incredible! My wife and I are in the US from Australia and me being a huge fan of the golden age of Hip Hop and especially NYC it was everything I hoped for! The knowledge from Mike C and our driver Toughy on the origins of not only
Hip Hop but also the history of Harlem
and the Bronx is second to none. Any fan of Hip Hop around the world needs to do this pilgrimage to the birthplace! The Mecca!
Yvonne_A, May 2026
Absolutely an amazing and informative experience! Traveled to NYC for a quick weekend trip and I must say this tour was one of the highlights of the short weekend! Mike C as the Tour Guide provided a fun, educational experience! This tour is a MUST!
Dirk_B, Apr 2026
Easy booking process, meeting point published in detail and easy to find.
Great tour guide and van driver, also the Breaker we met on the way. Our guide was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, entertaining and swept us with him. Saw and learned a lot. Thanks for a great day!
Cecelia_W, Apr 2026
Excellent tour of hiphop history and places! Mike C and John were our guide and driver and were outstanding! Take this tour!
LaKesia_B, Apr 2026
This was a great experience. The guide and driver were both high energy and knowledgeable about how Hip Hop began and all those that contributed to its origin and continues success. Very friendly and encouraged participation during the entire tour. Highly recommended if you are in the area. Riza, you rocked!
Kathi_Y, Apr 2026
Really great tour, lots of fun, learned a lot about hip hop. We got an in-depth look at several areas and saw a ton of awesome graffiti (made for great pics!), shot some baskets at Rucker Park and even got a breaking lesson. Razor has a ton of energy and made the tour extremely informative and fun. Enjoyed his rapping too. John navigated the traffic excellently and kept us on time. The two of them make a great team. This tour was great from beginning to end. Even better than I thought it would be.
Erica_R, Mar 2026
Mike C was our guide and was so much fun!! Loved him as our guide and highly recommend booking this experience!! Appealing to all ages on the tour, from age 10-60yrs. Information was so interesting and fun and we all learned something new!! Interactive tour for sure.
Yasmin_m, Feb 2026
It was an amazing tour and so glad I did it! It was me and my son and we both had so much fun and learnt so much! Mikey d was a great tour guide, he engaged with everyone from the kids to the adults and really had a laugh, the driver was also really knowledgeable and lovely too.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for joining us! We’re really glad you and your son had such a great time and learned a lot along the way.
Mike C will love hearing this, and we’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to the driver as well.
We appreciate you being part of the tour!
Hripsime_B, Dec 2025
Hush Hip Hop Tours is an absolute must-do if you love hip hop culture. This isn’t some watered-down tourist experience, this is the real, raw, authentic history of hip hop told the right way.
RayZa was a dope-ass MC host with serious knowledge, energy, and presence. From the moment the tour started, he had us locked in with stories, facts, and that true hip hop spirit. You can tell he lives and breathes the culture, not just talking about it, but representing it.
The tour takes you straight to the birthplace of hip hop, showing you raw, iconic locations you’d never find on your own. Every stop felt meaningful, from historic battle sites to places tied to classic music moments. It wasn’t just history, it was a living timeline of hip hop’s roots and evolution.
What really sets this tour apart is how interactive and real it feels. You’re not just listening—you’re experiencing the culture, the struggle, the creativity, and the legacy that built hip hop from the ground up.
If you’re a true hip hop head, or even just want to understand where the culture really came from, Hush Hip Hop Tours delivers on every level. Major respect to RayZa and the whole team for keeping the culture alive and unfiltered.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Much respect for recognizing the culture and the work RayZa puts in. That real, unfiltered hip hop history is exactly why we do this. Thanks for riding with us and for the love. 🖤🎤
Kevin_J, Dec 2025
Mike C is the GOAT. Best tour ever! Showed us around and told us good stories. Very nice tour. Will come back
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for the Huge shout out! See you upon your return.
Maik_R, Nov 2025
This was by far the funniest, most exciting tour I have ever done. Why? Because our guide, RayZa, is from the hood, knows everyone, everything and makes you want to dive deep into the Hip Hop culture. You don‘t only see milestone sights that were and are important for the scene but also get many many stories that make you go Wow! Of course it helps when you are affine to the music - but even if you don‘t (I‘m a Gen-X Metallica fan), you are blown away by the energy boost. And if you are lucky, like us, you walk away with new friends (my two Canadian hip hopsters) you would have never met otherwise.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for the review for choosing Hush during your visit!
Eric_N, Oct 2025
Amazing tour guide! High energy and a lot of great hip hop history. Finally getting to see the place where Kool Herc threw the first hip hop party was priceless!
Sandra_S, Sep 2025
I did this tour with my teenage son.
It is an excellent tour exploring the origins of Hip Hop in Harlem and the Bronx with Mike narrating on this day.
Mike is a Hip Hop artist and lived through that era so his depth of knowledge was second to none. His energy and humour was contagious making it a wonderful experience.
I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who has an interest in Hip Hop and the history of Harlem.
Felicia_W, Aug 2025
Great opportunity to explore a different side of New York and see historic sites while learning a great deal of history!
Shay_I, Aug 2025
Great experience was very good im really enjoy tuffay is great person love him hopedo this again in new york
Tommie_C, Jul 2025
Very informative and entertaining experience. I would love to take some the other hush tours the next time I am in New York.
Andreas_R, Jul 2025
Excellent roundtrip, fun moderation, and plenty of ativities on the way. A dream come true for a kid from the 80s.
Andreas - from Austria (via Atlantic City)
Marcus_D, Jul 2025
Great tour great experience amazing Tour guide razor excellent host very informative you could feel the hip hop in the air amazing sites well worth the money new yor amazing place
Isis_L, Jul 2025
The Hush crew, travel, and route was phenomenal! Great history interlaced with music, movie, art, and best of all hip hop trivia. Thanks for accommodating us when we were late too!
Chantel_M, Jul 2025
Very energetic, friendly host. He was interactive and knowledgeable about the history of all the locations.
lisa_f, Jun 2025
Mike C was great! Enthusiastic, so knowledgeable and fun! My 16 year old said it was his favorite tour we’ve ever done on any vacation!
loretta_n, Apr 2025
Informative, entertaining experience for all ages - highly recommend to anyone with an interest in the culture, history and sounds of hip hop music.
Federico_P, Mar 2025
Amazing experience!!! We loved it! We went with my son, the whole tour was awesome! If you love Hip Hop is a must!
Nicole_B, Dec 2024
Tour guide made the tour. He was very energetic and made the experience with his breadth of knowledge. The only thing I would say is to spend longer at landmarks such as Apollo and Yankee Staduim, these where whistle stop. Plus we never saw the Biggy Mural although we did see lots of others. Highlights were home of Hip Hop and the Joker steps. Thank you for a great experience.
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