On this day 44 years ago, August 11, 1973, a young DJ going by the name of Kool Herc hosted a party for his sister's birthday in the recreation room of the apartment complex on 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx. While DJing, he discovered that if he took two copies of the same record, played the two drum breaks within the song in succession and shifted between the two using a mixer, he could keep the drum break going indefinitely. This is credited as being one of the most pivotal moments in the birth of the genre that would later be known as hip hop music, arguably the most popular genre of music in the US and one of the most influential in the world.
This graphic novel by Ed Piskor chronicles the scene's early years, and the events that would shape its rise.
Own both the boxsets, love the series. I was excited about news of Piskor's X-Men series even more so when he confirmed the collections would be the same format and size as Hip Hop Family Tree.
Also, Stones Throw Records(the label that released albums such as Madvillainy and J Dilla's Donuts, among others) released a compilation of early Connecticut hip hop tracks, The Third Unheard, that features these tracks and much more, if you're interested.
Saw this comic storytimed couple of years back. Enjoyed reading into the roots of Hip Hop. Wild Style OST is my favorite hip hop album. Double Dee and Steinki and Jimmy Spicer are great too. Thanks Sup Forums. Thanks Ed.
