Hip hop legend Grandmaster Flash will be back in bookstores this fall in the form of “Birth of a Culture,” co-authored by writer Robert “Scoop” Jackson. This book, published by HarperCollins imprint Amistad, comes out on Sept. 22 and is up for pre-order now.
Flash’s 2008 autobiography documented his background, his battles with addiction,and his involvement in creating hip-hop music, Birth of a Culture addresses the technical, creative, and innovative aspects that led to the evolution of DJing as an art form. Using interviews and personal experiences, Flash reveals how hip-hop culture evolved from the streets of the Bronx.
Grandmaster Flash is acknowledged as one of the pioneers of hip hop who brought about changes in DJing skills that even influence music to this day. This book explores the history of block parties, breakbeats, graffiti, MCing, and sampling and how they were formed through the creativity of these musicians.
“This story has been on my mind for a very long time,”
GrandMaster Flash
The idea of Flash’s Quik Mix Theory is among the important ideas discussed in the book. This was an innovative idea of creating a continuous loop of drum beats using which MCs could perform their music without interruption. It formed the basis for the practice of sampling in hip-hop music.
The book also takes into account Flash’s continuous interest in engineering and technology. In his youth, he disassembled and reassembled turntables and stereo systems to develop innovative methods of sound manipulation that would help lay the foundations for many DJ practices that have been employed for decades to come. The role of rock music, drum solos, and experiments in music in the emergence of hip-hop will also be discussed.
Birth of a Culture will be released on Sept. 22 through Amistad and HarperCollins Publishers.
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