The ultimate coffee-table book created for all generations of fans. This colossal 420-page leather-bound collection includes hundreds of poster-sized photographs, exclusive testimonials from your favourite DJs, MCs, Graffiti Artists, B-Boys and Producers plus unique profiles of iconic game-changers written by Hip-Hop's most respected journalists and authors. Powerful writing with over 250 original essays, profiles and testimonials written by Hip-Hop's top journalists, authors, MC's, DJ's, B-Boys, graf artists and producers covering all aspects of the culture and profiling 40 Icons who changed the game. 30 authors (essay writers) include: Gabriel Alvarez, Dave Bry, Ayana Byrd, Dan Charnas, Cheo Hodari Coker, Andréa Duncan-Mao, Thomas Golianopoulos, Karen R. Good, Ernest Hardy, Monica Herrera, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Clover Hope, Todd Inoue, Billy Johnson, Jr., Toshitaka Kondo, Daniel Liszt, Rebecca Louie, Miles Marshall Lewis, Chairman Jefferson Mao, Kierna Mayo, Andrew Parks, Marcus Reeves, Carlito Rodriguez, Celia San Miguel, Corey Takahashi, Greg Tate, Dave Tompkins, Oliver Wang, Christopher R. Weingarten, and Jeff Weiss. Hundreds of powerful images compiled by key eyewitnesses to the Culture, including one-of-a-kind Polaroid portraits captured by celebrated photographer Jonathan Mannion. The Ultimate Guide Hip-Hop Essentials lists the hottest 100 singles and albums from each of Hip-Hop's four decades. PLUS an exclusive 4'x18” gatefold illustration by Mike Thompson, celebrating the four elements of Hip-Hop