‘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.’ – Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean), record producer and rapper
A visual and cultural history of hip hop, charting its meteoric rise from underground trailblazer to global tastemaker
To tell the story of contemporary American culture is to tell the story of hip hop. From its humble, underground origins, hip hop transcended the confines of rap music and spread its influence across a broad spectrum of American life – fashion, film, art, sports, politics, language – to become a cultural movement of profound influence.
Rapper’s Deluxe is a critical contribution to America’s cultural canon, shining a light on hip hop’s ability to redefine and influence culture, through: photographs; fine art; advertisements; book, magazine, and album covers; film stills; and more. Organized chronologically from the 1970s to the present, image-rich and dynamic layouts show the people, places, events, objects, outfits, and inspirations that redefined the world as we know it – from fur-coated fans lining up for a Muhammad Ali fight at Madison Square Garden to a legendary party in the “Boogie Down” Bronx, through the hoods of South Los Angeles and the trap houses of Atlanta to the extravagant red carpet looks of the Met Gala.
Drawing on a broad range of curated examples, Dr. Todd Boyd re-examines hip hop’s legacy and how the genre remixes ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture, past and present, to come up with a style that is uniquely its own. Filled with original insights and clever wordplay, Rapper’s Deluxe is a tale of transformation, following hip hop’s arduous, but always triumphant, journey as it rose up to dominate the game.
Review
As seen in New York Magazine’s Approval Matrix
‘Deeply researched and formidably composed ... a sumptuous object and a museum of a book. It’s everything you think it is, and then some.’ – Art Spiel
‘Made especially for grown and sexy hip-hop heads … Rapper’s Deluxe is as much a status symbol as it is a stroll down memory lane.’ – Detroit Metro Times
'The sheer size of the tome alone seems staggering and yet there could be countless editions to emerge from its solid base.'– Hip Hop Wired
‘The story of the genre’s lasting and pervasive impact on our culture, with striking visuals and bold fonts that illustrate and speak to hip hop’s truest nature.' – Hollywood.com
‘This incredible time capsule is full of insightful history, along with great imagery. A must-have for Hip Hop enthusiasts.’ – Jamel Shabazz, documentary photographer
'A significant contribution to the history of American culture.' – Los Angeles Sentinel
About the Author
Dr. Todd Boyd is Price Chair for the Study of Race and Popular Culture and Professor of Cinema and Media Studies at USC. A media commentator, author, producer, and consultant, Dr. Boyd has appeared in documentaries such as The Last Dance (ESPN, 2020) and the Ken Burns-directed Muhammed Ali (PBS, 2021). His body of work includes seven books and his essays have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and the Guardian.
