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From Boom Bap to Trap: Hip-Hop's Greatest Producers

Created by Hamilcar Publications

There has never been a book like this. Written and illustrated by noted hip-hop journalist Riley Wallace, From Boom Bap to Trap: Hip-Hop's Greatest Producers is a groundbreaking compendium that not only digs deep into the stories and catalogs of icons like Pete Rock, RZA, Dr. Dre, and DJ Premier, but also features highly influential beatmakers who have been slept on—sometimes criminally (Easy Mo Bee, Daz, Paul C, and Johnny “J," for example.) This book contains superb bios, brilliant lists of critical beats, punchy liner notes, and stunning artwork that finally do justice to the artists who have given hip-hop its backbone from the early ’90s to the present day. Ultimately, From Boom Bap to Trap is a nostalgia bomb, a conversation piece, a must-own work of art for real heads made by a real head. Lovingly curated, it’s an essential resource that will satisfy the hunger of both new fans and hard-core hip-hop junkies for years to come.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Who Belongs in the List?
almost 3 years ago – Sun, Jun 20, 2021 at 05:06:29 AM

Hi All, with a day and a half left we are 90% there!!!

We can't thank you enough for your support.

If there isanything you can do to even get one more backer to join you, we will get there and beyond. 


Who do YOU think belongs in the book?

Seriously, please go to the Comments section on our page and throw in your thoughts.

The process of making decisions about who makes a list of only 75 to 80 producers is not an easy one.

As we have promoted this campaign on social media we have received many suggestions. Some of them are spot on, and we even added one that we weren't sure should make the cut. Other suggestions, while worthy of being recognized, simply can't fit into a book this size.

Riley will write an Introduction for the book explaining his process, and there will be an Honorable Mention list.

Below is a short clip of our Publisher, Kyle Sarofeen, and Riley discussing the selection process. Below that, we are providing a PARTIAL list of producers we anticipate highlighting in the book. Note, this list is subject to change as Riley continues to conduct interviews, intensifies his research, and uncovers new gems.

Riley Wallace and Kyle Sarofeen Discuss The Difficult Selection Process 

The List?

Here is a list of 64 producers that we anticipate being part of the main features. That leaves about 10 to 15 more to add. We won't be able to please everyone... but the process is still fun!

  • 45 King
  • 9th Wonder
  • Alchemist
  • Beatminerz
  • Beats By The Pound
  • Boi-1da
  • Bronze Nazareth
  • Buckwild
  • Dame Grease
  • Daringer
  • Daz
  • Diamond D
  • DJ Premier
  • DJ Quik
  • Dr. Dre
  • Easy Mo Bee
  • Eddie F & The Untouchables
  • Eminem
  • Erick Sermon
  • EZ Elpee
  • Havoc
  • Hi-Tek
  • Hit Boy
  • J. Cole
  • J. Dilla
  • Jermaine Dupri
  • Johnny J
  • Just Blaze
  • Kanye West
  • L.E.S.
  • Large Professor
  • Larry Smith
  • Lil Jon
  • Lord Finesse
  • Madlib
  • Mannie Fresh
  • Marley Marl
  • Mathematics
  • Metro Boomin
  • MF DOOM
  • Mike Will Made It
  • Necro
  • Neptunes
  • No I.D.
  • Organized Noise
  • Paul C
  • Pete Rock
  • Prince Paul
  • Puff Daddy
  • Q-Tip
  • Rick Rubin
  • RZA
  • Salaam Remi
  • Scott Storch
  • Ski Beatz
  • Statik Selektah
  • Swizz Beatz
  • Sylvia Brown
  • Tha Hitmen
  • The Beatnuts
  • The Bomb Squad
  • Timbaland
  • Trackmasters
  • Tyler, The Creator

Best, Andy

We did it!!
almost 3 years ago – Sat, Jun 19, 2021 at 07:17:08 AM

We hit our goal, and more!!

Wow, thank you all for your support!

We are so appreciative of each and every one of you.

This will be a very special book. Not just the subject matter, finally giving hip-hop's producers their due, but you also will all be thrilled with the production value. No matter which version of the book you backed, you will be holding a work of art in your hands. This will be a true conversation piece in your home.

Our goal is to have your books shipped to you in June 2022. The playing cards will ship in time for this year's holidays. As soon as the beats by J57 are done we will deliver that digital file. The same with Riley's digital poster of the late DMX (RIP to a legend) and the producers that helped elevate his music.

For anyone who backed Bundini: Don't Believe The Hype, we should be able to have those shipped in the next 4 to 6 weeks. And for anyone who pre-ordered Beatboxing: How Hip-Hop Changed the Fight Game, you can expect those in October, ahead of the release to the public on November 2nd.

For backers of the playing cards, we will send a survey asking you to weigh in on the ranking of each producer to help determine their place in the deck.

We will keep you updated along the way.

Thank you again for your support!

Best, Andy, Kyle, Brad, & Riley.

p.s. There is still time to get your friends and family on board! If you want to add any items to your pledge, there is time for that as well. The campaign ends this evening at 10pm EDT.

MF DOOM story by producer Jon Doe-new interview clip.
almost 3 years ago – Thu, Jun 17, 2021 at 09:49:22 PM

Things are really picking up heading into the home stretch. Thank you all for your support!!

For all you MF DOOM fans, here's a great interview clip by Riley with producer Jon Doe about the time he introduced visual artist Koop to the late MF DOOM. Koop collects everything from comic books to toys, and gifted DOOM with a box of VHS Marvel tapes—even showing him an early 90s MTV Spring Break performance of KMD. Doe says, "DOOM bugged the f*ck out." They hung out listening to music and having some drinks that night. The tapes in that box ended up becoming the bulk of the skits on DOOM’s critically acclaimed sophomore solo LP Mm..Food—earning Koop a special thank you on the album jacket. DOOM also worked with Doe, appearing on his 2003 LP ‘Meet Jon Doe’ on the song “The Mic Sounds Nice.”

You can watch the clip below, and on YouTube. And if you go to our YouTube channel, look at the playlist we have going of interview clips.

Bonus chapter by Easy Mo Bee!
almost 3 years ago – Thu, Jun 10, 2021 at 03:10:19 PM

Hello Backers, we're heading into the home stretch! 8 Days to go. Please spread the word to your fellow hip-hop heads.

We're excited to announce that "OG" Easy Mo Bee is contributing a bonus chapter to the book!

Easy Mo Bee is arguably one of the most criminally slept-on producers in hip-hop. He is, of course, already included in Riley's book, but this additional chapter by Easy Mo will provide stories about how he got his start, his musical influences, how he views the landscape of hip-hop producers, and the techniques he uses in producing beats. From producing Notorious B.I.G.'s first single, to working with Miles Davis, Easy Mo will give unique insight into the world of hip-hop.

Here is a great video of Easy Mo giving a Master Class in 2018.

We are now also including the following items at no cost to all Reward tiers:

  • Digital download of beats by J57 (protégé of the legendary DJ Premier)
  • Digital print-ready poster of DMX and his producers

Let's get to the funding goal in the next 8 days! Please share the project with friends, family, and on social media.

New Content, New Reward!
almost 3 years ago – Wed, Jun 02, 2021 at 08:36:24 PM

Thank you to all our supporters!!

We're halfway there—half of the fundraising goal and 15 days to go. 

We'll have a very special announcement coming soon that we think you will be very excited about.

Today we added a new reward - a Full Page Advertisement in the book for select brands and musical artists. The page will be tastefully designed, and in keeping with the goal of the project - to further hip-hop's legacy. This Reward is only $1,500, and the full page ad will be included in the paperback that will be published and distributed through all bookselling channels.

Ideal partners for this might include hip-hop magazines, music labels, museums, charitable organizations, artists (producers, MCs, collectives, etc.), or apparel lines.

Please contact Andy Komack at [email protected] to learn more.

And as promised in the headline of this update, here is new content...

Riley interviews Bronze Nazareth, a producer from Detroit and an official "Wu Affiliate," about how he tracked down RZA in NYC and got his start. Bronze wanted to be an MC and played his track for RZA and it was the beat that caught his attention. "The rest is history." Bronze also talks about a night at the club with ODB and blazing his own path beyond Wu-Tang.


See more interviews with producers conducted by Riley by visiting the official From Boom Bap to Trap playlist on YouTube.