Behind the Beat explained

Behind the Beat: Hip Hop Home Studios
Author:Raph (Rafael Rashid)
Illustrator:Beci Orpin
Cover Artist:Rex
Country:United States
Language:English
Subject:Hip hop
Genre:Non-fiction
Publisher:Gingko Press
Pub Date:November 15, 2005
Pages:168 pp
Isbn:1-58423-197-1
Dewey:782.421649 22
Congress:ML87 .R37 2005
Oclc:150332583

Behind the Beat: Hip Hop Home Studios is a book by Raph (Rafael Rashid) where the home studios of twenty-eight notable American and British hip-hop producers are photographed (such as DJ Premier, J Dilla, Madlib, and DJ Shadow), along with brief descriptions of the producers and their studios. It was published in 2005 by Gingko Press.[1]

Background

Rafael Rashid runs Crookneck, a Melbourne-based record label, and the clothing labels Blank and Princess Tina, which he co-owns.[2] He originally photographed skateboarding, managing to get a few pictures published. He took on shooting home studios around 1995, when some of his friends began producing techno from their houses. Rashid was impressed with the quantity of gear they had in their apartments, saying:

The first studio he photographed for the book was that of DJ Shadow, whom he contacted when he passed through his town. Shadow agreed to show Rashid his house for a shoot, and then introduced him to Dan the Automator.[3] Rashid explained that most of the people he met were through other people's relationships, saying: "Producers know producers, and that would keep rolling."[4]

Content

Behind the Beat contains 320 black-and-white and color photographs,[5] all shot using a square-format Hasselblad camera.

The book features photos of the following producers' home studios: Young Einstein of Ugly Duckling, Chief Xcel of Blackalicious, DJ Spinna, Thes One of People Under The Stairs, The Nextmen, Dan The Automator (Gorillaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School), The Grouch, DJ Ransom, Farma G of Task Force, Da Beatminerz, DJ Shadow, Mario Caldato, Jr. (engineer of Beastie Boys), Huw72 of Beyond There, Cut Chemist, Sereck of Def Wish Cast, Kutmasta Kurt, Skitz, Madlib, J-Zone, DJ Premier, DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5, Fat Jack, deNorthwode, DJ Swamp, DJ Design of Foreign Legion, Jehst, E-Swift of Tha Alkaholiks, J Dilla.[6]

The book also includes an audio CD featuring music by several artists included in the book, mixed by DJ Ransom.[7] [8]

Reception

The book met with a certain success with music enthusiasts,[9] and has been re-printed several times by the editor. Rashid's pictures of J Dilla have since been acquired by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Rachid released a sequel to this book in 2017, under the name of Back To The Lab, featuring producers such as Flying Lotus, Just Blaze, DJ Jazzy Jeff et DJ Vadim.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Behind the Beat. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090626005311/http://www.gingkopress.com/_cata/_popk/behbe.htm. 2009-06-26. 2009-05-26. Gingko Press.
  2. Web site: November 7, 2005. Behind The Beat: Hip-Hop Home Studios Book With J Dilla And Madlib. 2020-10-14. Stones Throw Records. en-US.
  3. Web site: Grenrock. Ben. 2017-11-06. "I Hope These Books Will Just be These Timepieces From the Era": An Interview with Raph Rashid. 2020-10-14. Passion of the Weiss.
  4. Web site: Gonsher. Aaron. November 1, 2017. Back to the Lab: Hip-Hop Home Studios. 2020-10-15. Red Bull Music Academy. en.
  5. Web site: 2010-02-15. D/B BOOK REVIEW: RAFAEL RASHID – BEHIND THE BEAT: HIP HOP HOME STUDIOS. 2020-10-14. Digital in Berlin. en-US.
  6. Book: Raph. Behind the Beat: Hip Hop Home Studios. November 15, 2005. Gingko Press. 1-58423-197-1. 61.
  7. Crane. Larry. July–August 2006. Behind The Beat: Hip Hop Home Studios. Tape Op. en. 54. 2020-10-14.
  8. Web site: [{{Discogs release|2293529|Behind The Beat|pure_url=yes}} DJ Ransom – Behind The Beat]. Discogs.
  9. Web site: November 17, 2017. New Book "Back To The Lab" Takes You Inside the Studios of Legendary Hip-Hop Producers. 2020-10-14. Complex. en.
  10. Web site: Helfet. Gabriela. 2017-09-15. This new book takes you inside the home studios of hip-hop's finest producers. 2020-10-14. The Vinyl Factory. en-US.