Books in the MCL: Johan Kugelberg (ed.). Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip Hop

Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip Hop. Johan Kugelberg (Hrsg). Expanded edition 2023.

“Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip Hop”  is an in-depth exploration of hip-hop’s roots in the Bronx during the 1970s and early 1980s. Edited by Johan Kugelberg, this hardcover serves as a historical archive and a tribute to the pioneers who transformed a local movement into a global cultural phenomenon.

The book’s heart lies in the photography of Joe Conzo, known as “the man who took hip-hop’s baby pictures.” His candid images vividly capture the scene’s raw energy—block parties, breakers (break dancers), and iconic figures like Grandmaster Flash, the Cold Crush Brothers, and Afrika Bambaataa. Conzo’s photos spotlight the performers and document the surrounding community and atmosphere, reflecting the creativity and resilience that defined hip-hop’s grassroots beginnings. His work reveals a culture inventing itself amidst the social and economic challenges of the Bronx.

Complementing Conzo’s photography is the original flyer art by Buddy Esquire. These hand-drawn designs, photocopied and distributed to promote events and battles, embody the DIY ethos of early hip-hop. The flyers are historical artifacts showcasing the aesthetic and vibrancy of a community hustling to create a new cultural language. Esquire’s artwork captures the ephemeral beauty of hip-hop’s early promotional materials, serving as a visual record of the movement before it gained mainstream attention.

Kugelberg enriches these visuals with personal stories and interviews from some of hip-hop’s key figures, including Grandmaster Caz, Grandwizzard Theodore, and MARE 139. His impressionistic narrative provides an atmosphere rather than a comprehensive history, evoking the vibrancy and urgency of the era. Jeff Chang’s timeline offers further context, situating hip-hop’s emergence within the socioeconomic backdrop of a Bronx facing economic decline and urban decay. Against this setting, hip-hop thrived as an act of creative defiance and expression.

Afrika Bambaataa’s foreword reinforces unity and transformative power present during its early days. Conzo’s photographs, Esquire’s flyers, and firsthand accounts create a multi-layered portrayal of a community that invented something out of nothing.

Born in the Bronx offers readers an evocative glimpse into hip-hop’s origins. For enthusiasts and scholars alike, this book is a visual and narrative journey into the Bronx community’s passion, ingenuity, and resilience that birthed a cultural revolution.

Text: Steven P. Harrington and Jaime Rojo   Fotos: Sebastian Kläbsch