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Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey is a coffee-table book published by Aria Multimedia Entertainment. It is a 420-page, leather-bound tribute to Hip Hop that showcases the roots, birth, evolution, and global impact of hip hop culture over the past four decades.
Contents
Content
The book consists of 30 original essays on the evolution of Hip Hop Culture; 40 original, individual profiles of influential game changers, from Kurtis Blow to will.i.am; playlists of the singles and albums essential to each of Hip Hop's past four decades; and 154 interviews with the most influential DJs, MCs, Producers, Graffiti Writers, B-boys, and B-girls of the culture. The photography in the book includes one-of-a-kind 20x24 Polaroid portraits captured by Jonathan Mannion, as well as hundreds of powerful images contributed by key eyewitnesses of the culture. The immense collection measures 13x18 inches and weighs in at 15.5 pounds.
Featured game changers within the book include Jay-Z, Kanye West, Eminem, Run-DMC, Outkast, Queen Latifah, will.i.am, Sean Combs, 50 Cent, Will Smith, Missy Elliott, Native Tongues, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., and two dozen others. Says Cee-Lo Green of the book, “It’s our take on our own history and what our contribution to the culture has been.”
Critical reception
Critical reception of Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey was positive, with The Source calling it an essential literary and photographic collective of Hip-Hop's essence. Its other acclaims include:
"Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey sets itself apart from its predecessors on all fronts." —Yahoo! Music
"As bold and colorful as the larger-than-life people who built its history." —USA Today
“The creatively crafted book tells Hip-Hop’s story...in such an in-depth and innovative way.” —Vibe
“Its contents are fascinating...the attention to detail, the love that’s gone into telling Hip-Hop’s stories here.” —GQ (UK)
Contributors
Editor-in-Chief: Jordan Sommers
Essay Writers: Gabriel Alvarez, Dave Bry, Ayana Byrd, Dan Charnas, Cheo Hodari Coker, Andréa Duncan-Mao, Thomas Golianopoulos, Karen R. Good, Ernest Hardy, Monica Herrera, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Clover Hope, Todd Inoue, Billy Johnson, Jr., Toshitaka Kondo, Daniel Liszt, Rebecca Louie, Miles Marshall Lewis, “Chairman” Jefferson Mao, Kierna Mayo, Andrew Parks, Marcus Reeves, Carlito Rodriguez, Celia San Miguel, Corey Takahashi, Greg Tate, Dave Tompkins, Oliver Wang, Christopher R. Weingarten, Jeff Weiss.
Archival Photography: Al Pereira, Alexander Richter, Cache Agency, Carl Posey, Catherine McGann, Charlie Ahearn, Che Kothari, Chi Modu, Christian Witkin, Contour, Corbis, Corbis Outline, Dana Lixenberg, David Corio, Ebet Roberts, Ernie Paniccioli, Estevan Oriol, Frank W. Ockenfels 3, George Dubose, Getty Images, Gordon Parks, Harry Allen, Howard Rosenberg, Janette Beckman, Jay Blakesberg, Jeffery Newbury, Jeremy Deputat, Joe Conzo, Jonathan Mannion, Kevin Knight, Laura Levine, Lisa Kahane, Lyndon Wade, Martha Cooper, Matt Weber, Michael Ochs Archives, Neal Preston, Perou, Retna, Ricky Flores, Ricky Powell, Robin Holland, Roger Erickson, Ryan Murphy, Seth Kushner, Stephanie Chernikowski, Trevor Traynor, Tuff City Records, Zach Cordner.
Interviewers: Harry Allen, Soren Baker, Clover Hope, Billy Johnson Jr., Felicia “The Poetess” Morris, Norman Parrish.
First-Person Testimonials: Ad Rock, Akil, B Real, Baby D, Benny Boom, Big Daddy Kane, Big Hutch, Bill Duke, Bobbito Garcia, Bonz Malone, Boots Riley, Breeze, Brent Rollins, Brother J, C.L. Smooth, Casual, Cee-Lo Green, Cey Adams, Chali 2na, Charlie Ahearn, Chino, Chuck D, CMG, Craig G, Crooked I, D-Nice, Daddy-O, De La Soul, David Banner, Daz, Daze, Def Jef, Defari, Devin the Dude, Diamond D, DJ Babu, DJ Battlecat, DJ Bobcat, DJ Cash Money, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Khalil, DJ Premier, DJ Qbert, DJ Red Alert, DJ Rob Swift, DJ Z-Trip, DMC, Doctor Ice, Donald D, Dres, E-40, E-Swift, Easy Mo Bee, Ecstasy, Egyptian Lover, Erick Sermon, Everlast, Evidence, Fab 5 Freddy, Faith Evans, Freddie Foxxx, Fredwreck, Granddaddy I.U., Grandmaster Caz, Grandmixer DXT, Grandwizard Theodore, Greg Nice, Hakim Green, Heavy D, Ice-T, J-Ro, Jalil, Jean Grae, Jeru the Damaja, Jimmy Spicer, Joe Conzo, John Forté, Julio G, Just-Ice, Kam, Kamron, Kid, Kid Capri, Kool Keith, Kool Mo Dee, (Krazy Drayz) Das EFX, Krondon, Kurtis Blow, Kurupt, L.A. Sunshine, Lady of Rage, Lady Pink, Large Professor, Lee Quinones, Lord Finesse, Lord Jamar, Marley Marl, Martha Cooper, Masta Ace, MC Eiht, MC Lyte, MC Serch, Method Man, Michael Holman, Mike G, Mike Tyson, Milk Dee, Monie Love, Murs, Needlz, Nelly, Nikki D, Paris, Parrish Smith, Paul Wall, Peanut Butter Wolf, Pebblee-Poo, Pete Rock, Pharaoh Monch, Phil Da Agony, Posdnous, Prince Markie Dee, Prince Paul, Prince Po, Roxanne Shante, Sacha Jenkins, Sadat X, Schoolly D, Shock G, Special Ed, Special One, Spinderella, Spoonie G, Stat Quo, T La Rock, Talib Kweli, Tash, Tech N9ne, Tim Dog, Tito, Tony Touch, Too $hort, Wise Intelligent, Xzibit, Yo-Yo (rapper), and Young MC.