The history of the #boombox [#hiphop #oldschool]

From one iconic retired hip hop product (see my earlier post about the Technics SL-1200) to another. This time I'm writing about the battery-hungry boombox.

You already know that I have a love of old skool, but somehow November feels like hip hop history month. This NPR video someone sent me celebrates the launch of a book by award-winning photographer, Lyle Owerko, which features the history of boomboxes and fond memories from the likes of Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Don Letts (film maker and ex-Big Audio Dynamite), Fab 5 Freddy and Krs One. Read the NPR article here.



The book's lengthy title is "The Boombox Project: The Machines, the Music, and the Urban Underground" and it contains stark pictures of these hulking blocks of metal and plastic, better known as ghetto blasters if you want to be politically incorrect! 

The book is like a time machine back to the 70s and 80s when Crown, JVC, Aiwa, Magnavox and Sharp, Sharp, Sharp were the names in the boombox game. See the photos at New York's Clic Gallery until December 5th.

L.L. Cool J.'s homage to boomboxes!



Led Zepplin, a huge hip hop influence


More history Visit this website for a wealth of info on the boombox.

Creative In researching this posting I stumbled upon the talented designers and illustrators who helped give Owerko's book its vintage and retro comic book feel. One Horse Town did the posters and Modern Identity did the illustrations.