An exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art is exploring how hip-hop has influenced contemporary art culture.The exhibit is called “The Culture” and it’s attracting thousands of visitors interested in work centered around hip-hop.It comes as fans celebrate the 50th anniversary of the genre.When you walk inside the exhibit, you’ll hear a hip-hop soundtrack playing and you’ll see more than 100 works by majority Black artists. Some are from Baltimore, each with their own story behind their work and what “The Culture” means to them.”We are talking about trendsetters. We are talking about what it means to stand up and scream and just be mad and angry but also be positive, be happy, be joyous. That’s what hip-hop is,” said Charles Mason III.Mason grew up in Baltimore. He said everything from graffiti on buildings to people singing and dancing on the street have inspired his work. But the drawing that hangs in “The Culture” exhibit is inspired by his father.”(I’m) celebrating my father in both life and death. Like, he’s here with us, and my parents are still together, but celebrating him now and celebrating who I am and who I want to be,” he said.Just a few steps away from Mason’s drawing, you’ll find a painting by west Baltimore native Megan Lewis.”This is oil, glitter and acrylic on fabric,” Lewis said.When Lewis learned about this exhibit and heard the word hip-hop, she said an image came to mind.”I immediately thought of Black women and our contributions to hip-hop and how we don’t always necessarily get the credit that we deserve,” Lewis said. “I immediately thought of lemons, lemonade and how black women continuously turn lemons into lemonade.”Just down the hall, Baltimore-based artist Murjoni Merriweather tells a different story about Black women through braided hair.”I actually hand braid all the hair, and then I adhere them to surface sculptures that I sculpt myself. That is more so about celebrating Black hair (and) different hairstyles,” Merriweather said.But this exhibit is not just about seeing the artwork, it’s about letting people see themselves in the artwork.”I want us to be able to see ourselves in the world,” said Merriweather. “You come into this space, and you see something familiar in your own culture. Then you feel loved. You feel cared for.”You can enjoy the exhibit for free June 18. The exhibit will stick around until July 16 before it moves on to St. Louis, Cincinnati and then Toronto. You can learn more about the exhibit on the BMA website.