Hip-Hop in Washington, DC

Washington's identity is inseparable from Go-Go, the indigenous percussion-driven funk born here in the Seventies that still rules parks and clubs. The Howard Theatre on U Street and Blues Alley in Georgetown carry Duke Ellington's jazz legacy. Hardcore punk erupted in the Eighties with Bad Brains and Fugazi, and the Black Cat on 14th Street continues that DIY spirit. H Street and Shaw venues blend hip-hop, R&B, and indie rock into a sound reflecting the capital's clash of power and protest. Discover hip-hop bands, musicians, and venues in Washington on Bandmate.