Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa is teaming up with Grandmaster Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz and Grand Wizard Theodore to develop a museum dedicated to the music genre.

The hitmakers are hoping to open the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the newly-redeveloped Kingsbridge Armory in The Bronx, New York by 2017, according to the New York Times.

Bambaataa says, "Many people have a misconception of what hip-hop is. When they say hip-hop, they only say it's the rapper, and there's a whole culture and movement behind it."

The 56 year old will serve on an advisory committee for the museum and help raise money for the development of it.

He continues, "Since we started the art form, we think we should have the most invested in it."

Melle Mel adds, "If you just keep it on the music level it cheapens it. To embrace it as an art form, that's what makes it a museum."

Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash received official proclamations from The Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera on Wednesday (12Mar14), just days The Message hitmaker Grandmaster Flash became the first Dj to be inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk.