Phaidon has published its latest literary retrospective. Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World, written by Dr. Todd Boyd – a.k.a. The Notorious PhD – surveys the trajectory of hip-hop, charting its cultural history from its early days up until the present day.
Laid out chronologically from the 1970s, Rapper’s Deluxe looks at the genre’s underground origins and follows its path to its role in today’s zeitgeist – both “high” culture and “low” culture alike. Be it through fashion, photography, magazine covers, fine art, and, of course, the music itself, hip-hop has cemented itself as a formative cultural contributor.
In true Phaidon fashion, Rapper’s Deluxe leans heavily on the captivating images that spotlight the people, places, events, objects, outfits, and inspirations that made hip-hop the force it is today.
“50 years later, hip hop’s influence has never been stronger. This book is proof of that – a must-have for collectors, artists, dreamers, and hip-hop heads everywhere,” said Swizz Beatz of the book.
The hardcover book rounds out at 298 pages and features 430 illustrations.
Take a closer look at the contents of the book in the gallery above, and buy a copy of Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World for yourself – which runs for $80 USD – at Phaidon’s official webstore.
