168 pages Edited by David Toop Photographs by Patricia Bates 20.8 x 18.4 cm Language: English Paperback Publisher: Pluto Press 1984
An early and essential document in the history of hip hop, The Rap Attack is one of the first books to seriously explore the evolution of rap music and culture. Published in 1984, it offers a sharp and detailed look at the roots of the movement—from African oral traditions and Jamaican sound systems to the birth of hip hop in the Bronx.
David Toop, musician and cultural historian, digs into the art forms that shaped the culture—DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffiti—drawing connections between sound, identity, and urban expression. He also provides background on a number of seminal groups and artists, capturing a moment just before hip hop went global.
The text is complemented by striking black-and-white photographs by Patricia Bates, which give visual texture to the people and places that defined early hip hop.
A cult classic and an invaluable resource for collectors, scholars, and fans of the culture.
