Hip hop has come very far since it's humble beginnings in DJ Kool Herc's apartment room in the Morris Heights neighborhood of West Bronx.
Looping records at the drum break of disco albums while toasting over the beat has evolved into much more than a way to get a party turnt. It's now a musical genre that has become fundamentally embedded in our cultural DNA. You don't have to go to a house party in the Bronx to see hip hop's influence. All you have to do is turn on the TV and watch the train wreck of obnoxious politicians attempting the latest dance craze or walk down the street and see the fashion of the youth culture. Music, language, apparel, art, and everything in between has become a tapestry for hip hop minded people to weave their own unique vision into. Of course, a lot of people view this expansion and interweaving of hip hop as a misappropriation of the black community's own unique culture by the white majority, and without disregarding the fact that using an art form of the culturally oppressed for the monetary gain of the elite while the artists labor in penniless obscurity is unfair and socially corrupt; it doesn't change the fact that hip hop culture has allowed for many avenues and opportunities for minorities, increased awareness of economic and social concerns in inner city areas, and, in a metaphorical sense, created a bridge uniting many different kinds of people. As Martin Luther King once said "we may have come here on different ships, but we're all in the same boat now" and this sentiment should be echoed in a cultural mosaic like America, and in turn it's music. Hip hop is often a fusion for these different cultures. If we ignore the parrots that mimic a sound and style foreign to them and pawn it off as art lacking any significance or value and focus on the artists that actually use hip hop to paint their own unique and important stories, then we see how great an art form hip hop can truly be. And when we expand on the form to engulf other mediums then things start to get really interesting.
Another medium that hip hop has infiltrated and left a distinct mark on is literature, specifically comic books. Now I know there are many that dismiss comic's literary significance, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And where can one consume both the sweet craftsmanship of the visual arts and the awe inducing power of words? Comics, of course. Comic readers have known for years the deft and nuance that can come from it's unique storytelling devices. Comics have long had something to say about the world we live in and have expressed it with powerful artistic images. They're not just super heroes and soap operas. Comics have depicted stories of both cultural significance and universal importance such as Vietnam, the Holocaust, slavery, depression, political oppression, you name it comics have done it and often to critical acclaim. And not only are the topics varied but the art as well. Finding the right artistic style to accompany a certain story is an important part of the craft of comic book storytelling. Artists use both a figurative and sometimes literal suitcase full of styles, devices and influences to create a distinct experience for comic reader. Sometimes these suitcases happen to be filled with classic hip hop albums. Marvel has recently released a plethora of comics with variant homages to classic hip hop albums and the results are nothing short of delightful. Here they are in hip hop album chronology:
1. New Avengers Vol. 4 # 1 Variant by Ed Piskor
Inspired by Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five's The Message
2. Rocket Raccoon & Groot #1 Variant by Khary Randolph
Inspired by Run-D.M.C.'s King of Rock
3. Karnak #1 Variant by Kaare Andrews
Inspired by Schoolly D's Saturday Night!-The Album
4. Uncanny Avengers Vol. 3 #1 Variant by Jason Pearson
Inspired by Public Enemy's Yo! Bum Rush the Show
5. Spider-Man/Deadpool #1 Variant by Dave Johnson
Inspired by Eric B. and Rakim's Paid in Full
6. A-Force Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Adam Hughes
Inspired by N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton
7. Illuminati #1 Variant by Brittany Holloway-Brown
Inspired by Ice-T's Power
8. Civil War II #1 Team Cap Variant by Terry Dodson
Inspired by Ultramagnetic MC's' Critical Beatdown
9. Spider-Gwen Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Humberto Ramos
Inspired by Slick Rick's The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
10. Extraordinary X-Men #1 Variant by Sanford Greene
Inspired by De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising
11. Mockingbird #1 Variant by Jeff Dekal
Inspired by Kool Mo Dee's Knowledge Is King
12. Deadpool Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Mike Hawthorne
Inspired by Vanilla Ice's To the Extreme
13. Uncanny X-Men Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Greg Land
Inspired by Geto Boys' The Geto Boys
14. The Punisher Vol. 10 #1 Variant by Tim Bradstreet
Inspired by LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out
15. Thunderbolts Vol. 3 #1 Variant by Anthony Piper
Inspired by Naughty by Nature's Naughty by Nature
16. Old Man Logan Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Tim Bradstreet
Inspired by Ice Cube's Death Certificate
.jpg)
17. All New Hawkeye Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Sanford Greene
Inspired by Pete Rock & CL Smooth's Mecca and the Soul Brother
18. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Shawn Crystal
Inspired by The Pharcyde's Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
19. Dr. Strange Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Juan Doe
Inspired by Dr. Dre's The Chronic
20. Daredevil Vol. 5 #1 Variant by Alex Maleev
Inspired by 2Pac's Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
21. Civil War II #1 Team Iron Man Variant by Rafael Albuquerque
Inspired by Onyx's Bacdafucup
22. X-Men '92 Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Afua Richardson
Inspired by Souls of Mischief's 93 'til Infinity
23. Squadron Supreme Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Mike Del Mundo
Inspired by Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
24. The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Mike Del Mundo
Inspired by A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders
25. Weirdworld Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Juan Doe
Inspired by Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggystyle
26. Starbrand & Nighthawk Vol.1 #1 Variant by Keron Grant
Inspired by Gang Starr's Hard to Earn
27. Spider-Man Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Adi Granov
Inspired by Nas' Illmatic
28. Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. Variant by Wilfred Santiago
Inspired by Gravediggaz' 6 Feet Deep
29. Astonishing Ant-Man #1 Variant by Mark Brooks
Inspired by The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die
30. Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat #1 Variant by Javier Pulido
Inspired by Digable Planet's Blowout comb
31. Red Wolf Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Mike Del Mundo
Inspired by Method Man's Tical
32. Carnage Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Ariel Olivetti
Inspired by Redman's Dare Iz a Darkside
33. Howard the Duck Vol. 5 #1 Variant by Juan Doe
Inspired by Ol' Dirty Bastard's Return to the 36 Chambers
34. Power Man and Iron Fist Vol. 3 #1 Variant by Theotis Jones
Inspired by Mobb Deep's The Infamous
35. The Totally Awesome Hulk #1 Variant by Mahmud Asrar
Inspired by Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
36. Contest of Champions Vol. 3 #1 Variant by Denys Cowan
Inspired by GZA's Liquid Swords
37. Ultimates Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Mike Deodato Jr.
Inspired by Fugee's The Score
38. The Avengers Vol. 6 #1 Variant by Jim Cheung
Inspired by The Roots' Illadelph Halflife
39. All-New X-Men Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Ed Piskor
Inspired by Camp Lo's Uptown Saturday Night
40. All-New Inhumans #5 Variant by Damion Scott
Inspired by the Sugar Hill Records compilation The Sugar Hill Records Story
41. Black Widow Vol. 5 #1 Variant by Phil Noto
Inspired by Missy Elliott's Supa Dupa Fly
42. Hyperion #1 Variant by Lazy Mills
Inspired by Will Smith's Big Willie Style
43. Spider-Woman Vol. 6 #1 Variant by Natacha Bustos
Inspired by Big Pun's Capital Punishment
44. Ms. Marvel Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Jenny Frison
Inspired by Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
45. Uncanny Inhumans #1 Variant by Damion Scott
Inspired by Outkast's Aquemini
46. All-New Wolverine #1 Variant by Keron Grant
Inspired by DMX's Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
47. Venom: Space Knight #1 Variant by Mike Choi
Inspired by Kool Keith's Black Elvis/Lost in Space
48. Avengers Standoff: Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1 Variant by Andrew Robinson
Inspired by Outkast's Stankonia
49. Web Warriors #1 Variant by Damion Scott
Inspired by Clipse's Lord Willin'
50. Invincible Iron Man Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Brian Stelfreeze
Inspired by 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin'
51. Black Panther Vol. 6 #1 Variant by Brian Stelfreeze
Inspired by Jay Z's The Black Album
52. Mighty Thor Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Mike Deodato Jr.
Inspired by Madvillain's Madvillainy
53. Silk Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Woo Chul Lee
Inspired by Mos Def's The New Danger
54. Deadpool Vol. 5 #7 Variant by Rahzzah
Inspired by Bun B's Trill
55. Captain America: Steve Rogers #1 Variant by Jeffrey Veregge
Inspired by J Dilla's Donuts
56. Black Knight Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Gyimah Gariba
Inspired by Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor
57. International Iron Man Vol. 1 #1 Variant by Marco D'Alfonso
Inspire by the compilation Mark Ronson Presents Rhymefest: Man in the Mirror
58. Scarlet Witch Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Bill Sienkiewicz
Inspired by Eminem's Relapse
59. Deadpool Vol. 5 #1 Variant by Kaare Andrews
Inspired by Wale's Attention Deficit
60. Hercules Vol. 4 #1 Variant by Theotis Jones
Inspired by Lil B 'The Based God''s Blue Flame
61. Deadpool and the Mercs for Money #1 Variant by Rahhzah
Inspired by Pimp C's The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones
62. Drax #1 Variant by Mike Choi
Inspired by Kid Cudi's Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
63. Angela: Queen of Hel #1 Variant by Annie Wu
Inspired by Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday
64. Vision Vol. 3 #1 Variant by Vanesa Del Rey
Inspired by Wiz Khalifa's Rolling Papers
65. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 Variant by Dave Johnson
Inspired by Curren$y and DJ Drama's Verde Terrace
66. Spidey #1 Variant by Gyimah Gariba
Inspired by Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV
67. Nova Vol. 6 #1 Variant by Erica Caneta
Inspired by J. Cole's Born Sinner
68. Star-Lord #1 Variant by Tradd Moore
Inspired by 100s' Ivry
69. Spider-Man 2099 Vol. 3 #1 Variant by Afu Chan
Inspired by the GOOD Music compilation Cruel Summer
70. Captain America: Sam Wilson #1 Variant by Mahmud Asrar
Inspired by A$AP Rocky's Long.Live.A$AP
71. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1 Variant by Phil Noto
Inspired by Tyler, the Creator's Wolf
72. Silver Surfer Vol. 8 #1 Variant by Cliff Chiang
Inspired by Drake's Nothing Was the Same
73. Moon Knight Vol. 8 #1 Variant by Ricardo Lopez Oriz
Inspired by ScHoolboy Q's
74. All-New Inhumans #1 Variant by Marco D'Alfonso
Inspired by Future's Dirty Sprite 2
75. Captain Marvel Vol. 9 #1 Variant by Marguerite Sauvage
Inspired by Iggy Azalea's The New Classic
76. The Unbelievable Gwenpool #1 Variant by Woo Dae Shim
Inspired by ILoveMakonnen's ILoveMakonnen
77. Nighthawk Vol. 2 #1 Variant by Bill Sienkiewicz
Inspired by Big Sean's Dark Sky Paradise
78. Guardians of Infinity #1 Variant by Marco Rudy
Inspired by Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly
79. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #1 Variant by Jeffrey Veregge
Inspired by Vince Staples' Summertime '06
No comments:
Post a Comment