Rapper's Deluxe - by Todd Boyd (Hardcover)

About the Book

"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"--

Book Synopsis

'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 Quotes

As seen in New York Magazine's Approval Matrix

'A sumptuous object and a museum of a book. It's probably everything you think it is, and it's definitely 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

'Informative and worth a read.' - Library Journal

'[A] visual exploration of the history of hip hop and its influence on culture.' - SHOWstudio

'Exceptionally chronicles the connection between hip hop and sports.' - Team NBS Media

'The new cultural history of rap and hip hop culture.' - The Orange County Register

'There have been myriad celebrations of the 50th anniversary of hip hop over the course of the last year. Nothing, however, has yet summed up the 50 years of this transformative genre so much as Dr. Todd Boyd's Rapper's Deluxe.' - The Pitch

'Spotlights the various ways hip hop influenced or appeared in historical events, from the Black Panther Party Movement and its destruction to Eddie Murphy's hit stand-up comedy show "Delirious.' - The Wrap

'50 years of hip hop history in one Phaidon book.' - Wallpaper*

'More than merely a history of hip-hop but a vibrant celebration of its power to transcend boundaries and defy expectations.' - 92.5 The Beat

'For both the informed and those who love today's hip hop.' - Cool Hunting

'Dr. Boyd tells the story of this thrilling and complex genre, which was never just about music but about life itself. Anyone hoping to understand Rap and Hip Hop should read this.' - Mary Gabriel, author of Madonna: A Rebel Life

'A brilliant and beautiful text about the legacy of hip-hop.' - KBLA Talk with Tavis Smiley

'Rapper's Deluxe is a critical contribution to America's cultural canon.' - DoLA

'A visual and cultural history of hip hop, charting its meteoric rise from underground trailblazer to global tastemaker.' - Aspire Design and Home

'Synthesizes decades of cultural change into one sensational story.' - Modern Luxury

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.