BORNINTHEBRONXREVIEW

"Born In The Bronx-A Visual Record of Hip Hop's Early Days" is a
new book edited by Johan Kugelberg,a reknown music editor with
photos by Joe Conzo,who is credited as hip hop's first
photographer.

This book takes you into the world of hip hop in its infancy. During
a time in the 70s when you had nothing but urban decay,poverty,
and gang warfare, individuals(who were mostly kids)were creating
a new artform and culture that became hip hop. They basically
made something out of nothing. Took dead things and made them
come to life. These kids didn't have any classes to take in building
sound systems(which are now manufactured by electronic
corporations),learning how to perform b-boying moves(which are
now being taught in dance studios),spin two copies of the same
record(which is now being taught in DJ academy schools) or to pick
up a microphone and recite rhymes to a crowd. These kids didn't
have nightclubs to go to due to their age,so many of the early hip
hop parties were held in gymnasiums, recreation
centers,parks,basketball courts,bombed-out buildings(see Beat
Street) and even fast food restaurants like The Burger King
Disco(an actual Burger King that was turned into a disco when it
closed for the night and the tables and chairs were moved from the
floor).

You'll see over 200 pages filled with rare photos taken by Joe
Conzo(many including a few Polaroid shots believed to be lost until
a recent search in few basements),some rare flyers by one of the
original hip hop flyer masters,Buddy Esquire(look closely and
you'll see how he put his flyers together as this was done very
brilliantly years before Photoshop),an original lyric sheet written by
one of hip hop's storytellers,Grandmaster Caz for the Cold Crush
Brothers' 1982 single,"The Weekend", a hip hop timeline put
together by writer,Jeff Chang who wrote the book,"Hip Hop Don't
Stop"(this timeline takes it back to the early 1960s),a 1979 hip
hop map designed by Charlie Ahearn(director of hip hop's first
film,"Wild Style"),a foreward by the godfather of hip hop, Afrika
Bambaataa and testimonials by Grandmaster Caz, LA Sunshine of
The Treacherous Three, Popmaster Fabel of The Rock Steady Crew,
graffiti legend,Mare 139,Grandwizzard Theodore(creator of
scratching) and DJ Disco Wiz(hip hop's first hispanic DJ).

As an added plus,behind the dust jacket reveals a copy of a 1973
NYC Transit subway map(hip hop map)provided by Mr. Conzo and
DJ Tony Tone of The Cold Crush Brothers showing the notable spots
of where and who was rocking that area. A perfect map for anyone
who wants to visit these spots(many of them no longer around).

Now,the actual review! This book is wonderfully written and well
produced. The photos will actually take you,as the reader,into a
world that only small number of individuals were involved in. Johan
Kugelberg edited the book so well that if one has a keen sense and
a sound mind,the pictures are presented in somewhat
chronological order. The photos start from the true school period
and end with the photo of Run-DMC performing signaling the end
of a period. Mr. Conzo captured great memories of a time that was
raw to the point where you actually feel that you are there.
Especially a few of the photos of a Bronx wasteland(kinda looks
like the streets of Germany during World War II).

"Born In The Bronx" is the kind of book that should be in
educational institutions all over the world teaching music
appreciation,photography and art. It is also the kind of book that
not only a hip hop fan would enjoy,anyone who loves music would
enjoy. What young people should get from this book is that
anything can be created out of nothing by only their imagination
and young hip hoppers should get from this book is information
about their history. As Joe Conzo once said, "You can't know where
you are going if you don't know your history" and that is so true.

"Born In The Bronx-A Visual Record of The Early Days of Hip Hop" is
published by Rizzoli International of New York and will be available
at your local book store on November 9th.

THE FINAL RATING IS...FIVE ON THE BLACK HAND SIDE!