A visual history lesson through Hip-Hop culture

Every music movement has a story and there is no accounting for taste. The story of Hiphop, however, is a very special one. This relatively new movement ‘only’ had its origins in the 1970s. And specifically in New York, mainly in the Bronx district.

Maybe you’re a huge hip-hop fan, maybe not. But every music lover will enjoy this book. We can also definitely watch the Netflix documentary Hip Hop Evolution recommend. This takes you on a journey from the early 1970s to the present. From men like DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash to Jay-Z, Eminem and Kanye.

The book Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World from publisher Phaidon tells the story in almost 300 pages, full of legendary stories and photos. You make, as it were, a visual journey through a movement that was incredibly important at the time of its inception and still is today – more than fifty years later.

The book was written by Dr. Todd Boyd, a very special man. He is a legendary and award-winning professor, author, film producer and considered an expert on the American popular culture and is known for his groundbreaking work in film, media, hip-hop culture, fashion, art and sports. Rapper’s Deluxe shines a light on the origins of Hiphop and the importance it has to this day. You’ll see photos, visual art, advertisements, book, magazine and album covers, film stills and much more. All this is arranged chronologically from the 1970s to the present.

Contemporary American culture is inextricably linked to Hip Hop. What once started as a modest and above all movement in the underground has long since reached the surface. And in the process influenced contemporary life in America and the rest of the world. Highly recommended and a must-have for every music lover.