Y'all know hip hop was born in the tough neighborhoods of the Bronx, but rarely is new material ever dug up to show what this exciting period in music and culture was really like. That's where Born In The Bronx comes in. Editor Johan Kugelburg has put together 100's of photos from Joe Conzo (widely considered hip-hop's first photographer), the improvisational flyers of Buddy Esquire, and tons of Polaroid pictures that have been buried in Bronx basements for decades to give a fresh and authentic look at the birth of hip hop. It's a first hand look at the culture in it's earliest stages - the parties, the flyers, the people, the style, etc. In addition, there are several personal write-ups from key figures from the time - from DJs and MCs like Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Caz, artists like Buddy Esquire and Mare 139, the inventor of the scratch Grandwizard Theodore, and dancers like Popmaster Fabel. Being that documentation from the time period is extremely rare and virtually impossible to find, this book serves as a truly valuable resource. Over 200 pages, hardcover. Know your roots.

reviewed by snackmaster