Twenty one years after Notorious B.I.G. went back to, back to, Cali, Cali Raph Rashid takes us Back to the Lab: Hip Hop Home Studios. Ever since his previous bestselling publication Behind the Beat on nostalgic old-school producers and the emergence of fresh talent, Rashid has been synonymous with his pictures of hip-hop and music culture.
Rashid’s full-color hardcover photo book offers a hyperreal portrait of the home studios that the world’s top independent producers and DJs use to create their bass thumping tunes. From bedrooms to kitchens and even garages, this is a peek behind the scenes for all music buffs.
Rashid traversed the globe and gained personal access to the inner sanctuaries of some of the world’s greatest producers. Each page of Back to the Lab illustrates a vast array of setups and layouts used by in-home producers. The intimate portrait series sees them amongst their instruments and gear, record collections, and other assorted accessories from true behind-the-scenes access. Each spread is accompanied by write-ups about the producers, their recording environments, and their must-listen-to releases, all in an homage to the underground music production process. Featured artists and producers include: Alchemist, Ant, Babu, EL-P, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Jazzy Jeff, Kenny Dope, Lord Finesse, Oh No, and many more.