[Wild Style]; Kaz Kuzui; Shun Hisamatsu

From the personal archives of Monica Lynch, former president of Tommy Boy Records (1981-1998)

Containing selections from the soundtrack for Charlie Ahearn's 1983 film Wild Style, the present lot is the film's cassette book designed by Japanese artists Kaz Kuzui and Shun Hisamatsu in 1983. With the original Japanese-language obi and 62 pages of color collage, photograph, newspaper clippings documenting Hip Hop's second decade, this cassette book is a celebration of the culture behind the genre's first entrée into the world of cinema. A promotional object tied to the release of the film, this main art split across the front and back of the cassette book is the iconic "Wild Style" mural designed by Zephyr, Revolt, and Sharp.

After his first film The Deadly Art of Survival, Ahearn was approached by graffiti artist Fred Brathwaite—also known as Fab 5 Freddy—to produce a film focusing on the graffiti art, DJing, breakdancing, emceeing, and more that made up contemporary Hip Hop culture. Lee Quiñones was one of the first collaborators on the project, and Busy Buy Starski joined soon after. Production began in the summer of 1980, and Wild Style first screened in 1982, with the official premiere in times Square in 1983.  

Selling out every screening during it's three week run, the 1983 Wild Style premiere was a record-breaking success. Ahearn aimed to show real people doing real things in his film, casting a roster of Hip Hop who's who to play fantasy versions of themselves— Quiñones and Brathwaite, of course, as well as Lady Pink, The Cold Crush Brothers, Zephyr, Rammellzee, Grandmaster Flash, Busy Bee Starski, Futura 2000, and many more. The soundtrack was produced by Brathwaite in collaboration with Chris Stein of Blondie, and was mixed by Grandmaster Theodore with lyrics by Grandmaster Caz. The film was a tour de force, and is now considered the definitive film on Hip Hop culture. 

In a testament to not only the enduring impact of Ahearn's film, but also the creative work of all the designers and artists behind it, this cassette book on offer here is the inspiration for the NYPL's limited edition Hip Hop 50 library card.