In 1973, a young man named Clive Campbell, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but whose family emigrated to the United States when he was 12, began DJing in the Bronx, using a musical editing technique that gave him the Returning to the beginning made it possible to point the record player’s needle at him again and again and return. Through his artistic alter ego, DJ Kool Herk, he popularized this style, which he called breakbeat.
Soon all the young people in the neighborhood began to imitate Herk. A few months later, all of New York was talking about hip hop, and thanks to a handful of radio stations in New York and Los Angeles, breakbeat spread like a virus across the United States. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the epic, cult British publisher Reel Art Press is releasing “The Book of Rhyme & Reason.” This book by Peter Spirer is one of the most relevant works for understanding the cultural fire that this movement caused, thanks to a man who was there, in the middle of a revolution that celebrates its half century this year. After studying photography and film at the University of Miami, Spirer made a documentary about photographer Sally Mann and came into contact with various hip-hop personalities, thanks to his camera and his ease of inserting himself into a world. where not everyone is, being able to fully immerse yourself in the scene was welcome.
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“At these memorable gatherings, the parties were more than just music; “They were living expressions of art and identity,” Spirer tells EL PAÍS. The graffiti artists decorated the surroundings with their works, the breakdancers captivated the audience and the DJ acted as an axis that held the entire event together. People redefined themselves through the clothes they wore, reflecting the essence of hip hop culture. For Americans, there is a fundamental difference between hip hop and rap, and it is important to emphasize their cultural significance by capitalizing both terms. To truly embody hip hop, one must fully embrace all of its facets, including breaking, graffiti art, DJing and fashion. As KRS-One said, “Rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live.”
“Puffy didn’t waste a second. I remember having to wait for hours before I could go to an interview with him and see him work while he got his hair cut.” 1996-98 AccuSoft Inc., All Clear (Peter Spirer)
“A very young Jay-Z recording in the studio. He wasn’t a household name yet, but there was a feeling that this talented artist would soon take off.”Peter Spirer (Peter Spirer)
“This is Erick Sermon drinking a forty at a party somewhere in Newark, New Jersey. He and Redman were there at the party, to the amazement of onlookers. A huge sound system was set up in an abandoned lot, with which Redman fought on the microphone night and proved that he is one of the best of his kind.”Peter Spirer (Peter Spirer)
Biz Markie at his home in Baltimore. “Booking shows over the phone while composing is a real talent.” Peter Spirer (Peter Spirer)
“Lords of the Underground” somewhere in New Jersey. “I loved those guys. I always thought they were underestimated. The boss, Chief Rocka, is a gem.”Peter Spirer (Peter Spirer)
Biggy Smalls is sitting on the couch. “When I interviewed him, he had just received his platinum awards from Bad Boy, his record label. I asked him to open it on camera and talk about it. He offered my team a joint to smoke. I was afraid to keep things focused, but I passed.”Peter Spirer (Peter Spirer)
“This photo is different from all the others because I took it with a 35mm camera and I don’t remember why. I recorded it at Craig Mac’s house somewhere on Long Island in New York. I was down to earth and he rejected any claim to fame. He started washing dishes while we were interviewing him.” 1996-98 AccuSoft Inc., All Right (Peter Spirer)
In the middle is the rapper Nas. “This photo was taken when the Queensbridge public housing complex in New York was being built right behind it. He still lived there with his mother. It was raining lightly when we took the photos. You can see it in the photo.”Peter Spirer (Peter Spirer)
Da Brat smokes marijuana. “We were at rapper Jermaine Dupri’s house in the suburbs of Atlanta. I don’t remember how I got him to smoke a joint in the bathroom, but I’m glad I did. It is a recording that represents his provocative ‘do anything’ spirit. ‘”.Peter Spirer (Peter Spirer)
“In the now closed Virgin Mega Store in Los Angeles. Chuck was always insightful and had a lot to say. He gave us precise knowledge of the music business.”Peter Spirer (Peter Spirer)
But Spirer is not only a photographer and a direct witness to the golden era of the genre, he is also the director of what many consider to be the best documentary film about the hip-hop universe, which has the same title as the book he will soon publish: Rhyme & Reason. “While documenting hip-hop, I witnessed a dynamic period of development, particularly with the rise of MCs [master of ceremonies, los anfitriones y auténticos protagonistas de las veladas musicales]. Every element of the culture had its standout moment. “However, as record companies discovered the profitability of record sales, attention shifted primarily to the rapper, and the other components of the culture began to fade and eventually fade into the background,” explains Spirer.
Released in 1997 and produced by Miramax, the documentary is a captivating look back at the lights and shadows of hip hop and features statements from the likes of Ice T, Dr. Dre, Da Brat, E-40, Method Man, The Notorious BIG, Lauryn Hill, Nas, Q-Tip or Wu-Tang Clan, among others, are more than 80 important artists to understand the boom of a musical style that has marked the 21st century. Century continues to dominate. The book covers the period between 1994 and 1997, which is unanimously regarded as the time of greatest upheaval in the history of the genre. “During the time I documented, there was an incredible wealth of style and diversity within this culture. I was lucky enough to be there during what I consider to be the golden age of hip hop. Because hip-hop has always transcended the realm of music; “It is a culture born of the struggle of people from the South Bronx who sought to express themselves in fresh and stimulating ways,” says the photographer and documentary filmmaker.
For Peter Spirer, there is an intrinsic quality that is specifically associated with the genre and that he seeks to reflect in his work: a passionate loyalty to the world of hip hop. “Most artists feel an obligation to take the people around them with them. When a rock band makes it, you don’t see their friends going the same way or getting a piece of the pie. Hip hop was different, the relationships were different, the circle was different. With both the documentary and The Book of Rhyme & Reason, I wanted to give America the opportunity to see the human side of culture and the people who make it up. The relationships of artists and their families, friends and parents. I wanted to turn the volume down so we could hear the artists talk unfiltered about life, business, their hopes and dreams, and get a real insight into their world. “Honestly, that’s all I care about and I hope I’ve accomplished it,” he concludes.
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