Hip Hop Family Tree, Vol. 1: 1970s-1981

The lore of the early days of hip hop has become the stuff of myth, so what better way to document this fascinating, epic true story than in another great American mythological medium -- the comic book? From exciting young talent and self-proclaimed hip hop nerd Ed Piskor, acclaimed for his hacker graphic novel Wizzywig, comes this explosively entertaining, encyclopedic history of the formative years of the music genre that changed global culture. Originally serialized on the hugely popular website Boing Boing, The Hip Hop Family Tree is now collected in a single volume cleverly presented and packaged in a style mimicking the Marvel comics of the same era. Piskor's exuberant yet controlled cartooning takes you from the parks and rec rooms of the South Bronx to the night clubs, recording studios, and radio stations where the scene started to boom, capturing the flavor of late-1970s New York City in panels bursting with authentically detailed illustrations. With a vigorous and engaging Ken Burns meets Stan Lee approach, the battles and rivalries, technical innovations, triumphs, and failures are all thoroughly researched and lovingly depicted. It features charismatic players behind the scenes like Russell Simmons, Sylvia Robinson, and Rick Rubin, and traces graffiti master Fab 5 Freddy's rise in the art world, with appearances from Debbie Harry, Keith Haring, The Clash, and other luminaries as the music and culture penetrate downtown Manhattan and mainstream culture.