HONORING THE LEGACY. BUILDING THE FUTURE.
The Pittsburgh Hip Hop Museum (PHHM) is where culture meets history. We preserve, celebrate, and amplify the voices that have shaped Pittsburgh’s hip hop movement. Through immersive storytelling, powerful exhibitions, and community-driven events, PHHM ensures that the city’s influence on hip hop is never overlooked.
MISSION
To document, celebrate, and elevate Pittsburgh’s hip hop legacy—creating a space where artists, entrepreneurs, and the community can engage, learn, and be inspired.
THE TEAM
Paradise Gray aka The Arkitect (X-Clan)
CEO & Chief Curator
Paradise Gray aka “The Man of Steel” is a hip hop Legend from the South Bronx who was mentored by Pioneering DJ’s Disco King Mario, Pete DJ Jones, The Grand Imperial DJ Jaycee (Herculords) and DJ CC Howard. Paradise produced 9 albums on major labels including 2 classic albums, “To the East Blackwards” (which celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2020) and “Xodus” with his Legendary messenger group “X-Clan.”
Paradise was the manager of entertainment, booking agent and the host of the world-famous hip hop club “The Latin Quarter” (L.Q.) which was the incubator of “The Golden Era of Hip-Hop” From 1986 – 1988. The L.Q. introduced the world to artists.
Paradise spent his formative music business years working closely with Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, Heidi Smith, Bill Adler, Kurtis Blow and Andre Harrell at RUSH Productions/Def Jam Recordings. Paradise learned artist management, music production & promotions from the best in the business. Paradise is curator/archivist and hip hop historian with a massive hip hop memorabilia collection entitled “The Paradise Collection.” He has also curated multiple exhibits worldwide.
Additionally, Paradise is currently the Chief Curator and Advisory Board Member of The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, NY. He has recently partnered with the Warhol Museum as a mentor for their new Pop District project. THHM’s curators, Paradise Gray and Prime Minister Pete Nice with guest stars LL Cool J and Ice T created an ALL-NEW series, Hip Hop Treasures, which premiered August 12th on A&E TV. Paradise recently went on a eight city tour in conjunction with Mass Appeal and Ciroc and The Hip Hop Museum from June – December 2023 which ended at Art Basel in Miami.
Dr. Amber Epps aka HollyHood
Director of Operations & Co-Curator
Dr. Amber Epps is a lyricist, professor, author, DJ, abolitionist, and multidisciplinary artist. Writing her first song in 6th grade detention, HollyHood has performed in venues around the country. She has produced numerous events including Proud to be Local, the Pittsburgh Underground Music Awards, Battle for the Buck, Where’s the Beef? Compliment Battle, and PMS (Promoting My Sisters), an all-women showcase. The music video for her song “No Sleep Til Brooklyn”, shot, edited, and directed by Chris Ivey of Hyberboy Films, has appeared in a number of spaces including the McDonough Museum of Art, Space Gallery, and as part of the Anthropology of Motherhood exhibit at the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Her album, YellowJacket, was featured in a hip-hopera she co-wrote, co-directed, and co-starred in titled “Quest and the Girl with the Yellow Jacket”, which was a part of the New Hazlett Theater’s Community Supported Art series. Additionally, she has opened for artists such as Ja Rule, Warren G, GZA, Sugarhill Gang, Rakim, and KRS-One.
As an artist, Amber creates using various found and discarded objects from nature and other unexpected places such as thrift stores. The work that she creates is inspired by spirituality, humanism, occult, social justice, prison reform, and abolition. Amber also creates sculpture, installation, word art, and more, developing pieces based on raw emotion, current and past life experiences, and the things she sees through her “other eyes.” In 2022-2023, Amber’s installation, “Homage” was on display at the Pittsburgh International Airport, and was the first time Black/African spirituality had been presented to the public in this space. Her work was also used as the cover art for a book entitled “Makeshift Altar” by Amy Alvarez. In 2023 she published a book entitled “Mushroom Logic, Vol 1: Doves Can’t Cry. That’s Stupid.” Additionally, she wrote the introduction for “Life Sentences: Writings from Inside an American Prison”, which features writings from men serving death by incarceration sentences in a Pennsylvania prison, including her brother, Oscar Brown, with whom she has collaborated with on an art installation called “Caged Birds.”
Amber is also the owner of Arts & Crafts: Botanica & Occult Shop where she provides readings, medicine work, and other services. She is also the founder of the Gallery of Rejected Art, as well as the founder and principal consultant of Fly Buffalo Consulting Group.
Her degrees include a Master of Science in Information Systems & Technology (Usability Studies), a Master of Business Administration (Management Information Systems), a Doctor of Science (Information Systems & Communications), and a Doctor of Education (Higher and Postsecondary Education).
Most importantly, Amber is a proud mom of 3 amazing sons.
Adam “FRH” Golden
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Adam “FRH” Golden is a multidisciplinary artist, strategist, and cultural organizer whose work amplifies the transformative power of Hip Hop. As the founder of FRH Market and co-leader of Slappers N Bangers, a DJ-driven party series, he fuses performance, entrepreneurship, and community impact. A visionary rooted in authenticity and creative freedom, FRH plays a key role in the Pittsburgh Hip Hop Museum’s strategic direction, leveraging storytelling, partnerships, and cultural preservation to honor the city’s legacy and shape its future.