Hampton Roads

The seven cities of the Hampton Roads region, aka “the 757”, are each unique but also intertwined. Economically and culturally there is a sense of shared understanding, dialect, language, and experiences. The Heart & Soul of the region is influenced by the rhythm and flow of the water. What’d Pharrell say? There’s something in the water. There’s been something in the water since the first enslaved Africans arrived to these shores more than 400 years ago. Their ancestors have kept the vibrancy of Black culture alive and thriving in the area. 

During the Civil War, Hampton became a beacon of hope for the enslaved communities throughout the South. In 1861, three enslaved men that escaped to Fort Monroe were accepted as “contraband of war” and, as such, not returned to their owners. Thousands more would follow their footsteps to this chance at freedom. It would come to be known as the “Freedom Fortress,” with many seeking refuge behind its walls. Similarly hope for a new future could be found under the shade of an old oak tree, the Emancipation Oak. It was here that Mary S. Peake taught many free as well as enslaved African Americans how to read and write. This pioneering act of education inspired the need for a school. This historic tree sits on what is now the campus of Hampton University, a historically black university, and was the site of the first Southern reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, effectively freeing African Americans from the bondage of slavery. Black culture and history in Hampton have roots as deep and strong as the mighty Oak.

Today, Hampton and Virginia Beach, a vibrant coastal city with an energetic vibe that's home to a thriving arts scene and a diverse range of restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, and the larger “757” region, have played an influential role in the sound of hip-hop. Artists like Pharrell, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, and Pusha T call the area home and find inspiration in the flow of the water. Their style and sound have influenced multiple generations, as well as the music industry as a whole, forever shaping Black culture in both “The 757” and throughout the world.