Hip Hop Family Tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hip Hop Family Tree | |
|---|---|
 Hip Hop Family Tree #1, depicting DJ Kool Herc | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Boing Boing (2012–2015) Fantagraphics (2013–2016) |
| Schedule | Monthly |
| Format | Limited series |
| Genre | |
| Publication date | August 2015–July 2016 |
| No. of issues | 12 |
| Creative team | |
| Created by | Ed Piskor |
| Written by | Ed Piskor |
| Artist | Ed Piskor |
| Penciller | Ed Piskor |
| Inker | Ed Piskor |
| Letterer | Ed Piskor |
| Colorist | Ed Piskor |
| Collected editions | |
| Hip Hop Family Tree Vols 1-2: 1975–1983 gift boxed set | ISBN 978-1606997918 |
| Hip Hop Family Tree 1983–1985 gift boxed set | ISBN 978-1606999417 |
| Hip Hop Family Tree: The Omnibus | ISBN 978-1683968894 |
Hip Hop Family Tree is a series of educational and historical comic books by Ed Piskor that documents the early history of hip hop culture.[1] Originating online with Boing Boing, the series was published in print form by Fantagraphics. The first collection was a 2014 New York Times Graphic Books Best Seller (#7)[2] and was listed in The Washington Post Top 10 graphic novels of 2013.[3] The second collection won the Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work in 2015.[4]
Piskor's artistic style in Hip Hop Family Tree—including his use of Ben-Day Dots[5]—hearkens back to the comic book styles prevalent during the period being retold.[6] Robert Crumb is openly referenced as an inspiration to Piskor,[7] who cites Crumb's "Heroes of Blues, Jazz & Country" trading cards as an influence. Crumb and Piskor are similar in their commemorations of key artists and musical figures, and the informative narration of their chosen genre's historical evolution.[8]
Hip Hop Family Tree began on Boing Boing in January 2012 as a one-page "semi-regular ongoing feature",[9] and ran, mostly weekly, until December 2015. Fantagraphics released the first "Treasury" collection, Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 1: 1970s–1981, in 2013, and the second collection, covering the years 1981–1983, in 2014; both of which collected material that had been previously published on Boing Boing. That year the publisher also released a "Gift Box Set", collecting the first two treasury editions.
In August 2015, Fantagraphics released the third collection, covering the years 1983–1984, while also beginning a monthly magazine-format limited series. That series ran 12 issues, through July 2016. Fantagraphics published volume 4 of the Treasury collection in July 2016. That year the publisher also released a "Gift Box Set", collecting volumes 3 and 4 of the Treasury editions.
An omnibus release of the entire series was released on October 17, 2023, sold in a deluxe hardcover with 140 pages of extras.