The idea that Hip Hop is a culture in itself, as well as a significant influence on modern culture in general is a concept that would go over a lot of people’s heads . Many are blind to the fact that this fascinating, electrifying culture planted its roots in 1960’s soul music, and now has branches in our 21st century’s music, fashion, philosophy, literature and lifestyle. “Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey” embodies this in a deluxe, 420 page leather bound coffee-table style encyclopaedia.
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The 13 x 18 inch tome weighs in at 15.5lbs and pays tribute to the Hip Hop movement that has impacted the world as we know it. With a collection of 70 essays by the industry’s most talented and respected journalists from publications such as Billboard, Vibe, The Source, XXL, BET and Complex; 54 interviews with the top innovators within the industry (including MCs, DJs, Producers, B-Boys and Graffiti Artists); exclusive never before seen photographs and a personal introduction by Zulu Nation founder, Afrika Bambaataa – “Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey” is no lightweight.
Decades ago, Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, The Sugarhill Gang and DJ Kool Herc were just gaining recognition in their neighbourhoods, for what has now become a huge influencer of modern culture, worldwide. Russell Simmons (co-founder of Def Jam) comments “Hip-Hop has been a powerful force since its inception decades ago. This book, Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey offers an extensive and in-depth look at the culture which changed the world and will become an important asset to world history”.
For me personally Hip Hop is more than just a lyricist and a beat. Hip Hop is protest music, poetry with a kick, a genre of music that embodies pride, anger, love and hate all at the same time. With such a broad range of influences from James Brown to Gil Scott Heron, to Jamaican Reggae music and West African Griots, it explains the huge range of music which comes under the heading Hip Hop. A short trip around any record store, or online music shop shows consumers the huge scope of sub-genres that fall under Hip Hop including Old-School, Gangster, West Coast, East Coast, Alternative, Southern and Conscience. Hip Hop, just like any culture has flipped, turned, progressed and changed since it began during block parties in New York back in the 1970’s and this literary accolade was written by the people who founded Hip Hop, helped it grow and continue to make musical and cultural history today – which is what makes “Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey” stand out.
Jordan Sommers, Editor-in-Chief of Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey adds, “Growing up during the rise of Hip-Hop Culture had a profound effect on me. It became my mission to create an unprecedented tome highlighting its tremendous impact and influence on the world.”
Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey has been on sale on since at : www.hiphopculturebook.com for £249.99 and a donation of $10 from the sale of each book will be donated to Afrika Bambaataa’s Universal Zulu Nation Multi-Cultural Center of the Universe: http://www.uznbuildingfund.blogspot.com/
Yin:
Totally dig this book’s layout – the design, the photography and typography are on point. The illustrative vector work inside the cover is my favourite part, it’s the shiny pages in the top image. The photography is on point, some of hip hop’s most memorable photographs are in this book in A3. I want to rip each page out and plaster them over one of my bedroom walls as a collage/mosaic thing. They are that good. My only gripe with the book being A3 – it’s hard to store! I would probably store it and never take it out because of its size.
About Tara
Music discoverer, explorer and lover! I enjoy traveling, politics, film and all things creative! Follow me on Twitter for rants, food & Hip Hop and check out my other blog!