North Carolina SB 980: Adopt Official Hip-Hop Song.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 980

Short Title: Adopt Official Hip-Hop Song. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Murdock, Smith, and Salvador (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
May 4, 2026
*S980-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ADOPT THE SONG "RAISE UP" AS THE OFFICIAL HIP-HOP SONG OF THE 2
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. 3
Whereas, in 2023, hip-hop fans across North Carolina and the world celebrated the 4
50th anniversary of hip-hop music; and 5
Whereas, North Carolina's Historically Black Colleges and Universities have helped 6
shape the rich and diverse sound of North Carolina's hip-hop artists; and 7
Whereas, North Carolina is the home state of Petey Pablo, J. Cole, Rapsody, 9th 8
Wonder, Phonte, Big Pooh, and many other hip-hop icons; and 9
Whereas, Moses Barrett, III, henceforth referred to as Petey Pablo, was born and 10
raised in Greenville, North Carolina; and 11
Whereas, Petey Pablo is a Grammy-nominated platinum rap artist that was inducted 12
into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2024; and 13
Whereas, "Raise Up" was released in August 2001 as a tribute to the people of North 14
Carolina and maintains its cultural significance as an anthem for the State; Now, therefore, 15
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 16
SECTION 1. Chapter 145 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 17
section to read: 18
"§ 145-52. Official hip-hop song. 19
The censored version of the song "Raise Up" by North Carolina rapper Petey Pablo is adopted 20
as the official hip-hop song of the State of North Carolina." 21
SECTION 2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of 22
Natural and Cultural Resources the sum of six million five hundred thousand dollars ($6,500,000) 23
in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and the 2027-2028 fiscal year to be used for 24
the North Carolina Music Heritage and Tourism Initiative (Initiative). The Initiative shall use 25
funds for (i) a statewide promotion campaign entitled "First in Flight, First in Sound," including 26
traditional and digital advertisement, documentaries, and branded content, (ii) planning and 27
holding of hip-hop related festival and concert events, (iii) partnering with local governments 28
and HBCUs for promotion of the Initiative and campaign, (iv) creating a hip-hop music heritage 29
trail, and (v) creating an interactive application for mobile devices that can be used by attendees, 30
participants, HBCUs, and local businesses for Initiative and campaign information and 31
promotion. The Initiative shall take steps to ensure the cultural and hip-hop music scenes 32
throughout the State are represented, including, at a minimum, Greenville, Fayetteville, Durham, 33
Charlotte, and Raleigh. The Initiative shall have two honorary chairpersons that represent North 34
Carolina hip-hop music and hip-hop music heritage. 35
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law. 36