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Hip-Hop has been in existence for over four decades and its rich history is deserving of continual examination and reverence. UK-based art and design studio Dorothy has unveiled its new Hip-Hop Love Blueprint that pays homage to founding fathers DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash, while also honoring current culture leaders Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar among several dozen others, all using the circuit diagram of the turntable.

From Dorothy:

Our Hip-Hop Love Blueprint celebrates over 700 MCs, DJs, producers, turntablists, musicians, graffiti artists, b-boys and b-girls who (in our opinion) have been pivotal to the evolution of hip-hop, from pioneers such as DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash to present day superstars such as Jay-Z, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar.

The prints pays homage to the godfathers of hip-hop (Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets) but takes its starting point as DJ Kool Herc’s Back to School Jam in the Bronx, New York in August 1973 – the party that is widely regarded as the birthplace of hip-hop.

The print weaves it way through many different scenes and record labels including early old-school innovators (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Cold Crush Brothers), golden age heroes (Run–DMC, Beastie Boys, KRS-One, Eric B. & Rakim), hip-hop collective Native Tongues (De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, Monie Love), politically charged hip-hop (Public Enemy, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Lauryn Hill), legendary East Coast artists (The Notorious B.I.G, Nas), legendary West Coast artists (Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre), gangsta rap (Ice-T, N.W.A, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg), hardcore (Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep), Southern rap (Lil Wayne, T.I., Outkast) underground hip-hop (Company Flow, MF Doom, Aesop Rock), turntablism (Invisibl Scratch Piklz, The X-Ecutioners), trip-hop (Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead), UK grime (Wiley, Skepta and Stormzy) and legendary producers (DJ Premier, J Dilla, Madlib).

Also honored in the blueprint are b-boy and b-girl crews like the New York City Breakers and Rock Steady Crew. Graffiti writers also get props such as Lady Pink and Futura 2000.

The blueprint is screen printed metallic gold with a cobalt blue background. Check out the piece in full by following this link.

Check the images below and on the following pages to see

Photo: Dorothy

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