Journalist Tobak (Detroit News; Paper) provides a valuable lens into the history of hip-hop, offering iconic photographs spanning 1979–2012, along with the contact sheets. Commentary from the photographers gives context on how the shoots developed, locations were selected, interactions with the musicians, and other observations. There are essays by contributors such as photo collector and former Def Jam Recordings publicity director Bill Adler, artist Questlove, record producer DJ Premier, and Rhea L. Combs, curator of film and photography at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Among the photos are Gordon Parks's A Great Day in Hip-Hop (a remake of A Great Day in Harlem featuring more than 200 artists, including Fab Five Freddy, Twista, and Pete Rock), along with images of Tupac Shakur, Aaliyah, Run-DMC, Notorious B.I.G., Slick Rick, Queen Latifah, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and many more. VERDICT Take out your magnifying glass and dig into these famous shots. Whether readers are familiar with or new to the music, they'll appreciate this oversize full-color tome that communicates the energy, power, culture, and images of hip-hop. [See also Mahnaz Dar's "Testifying to the Power of Hip-Hop at the New York Public Library," ow.ly/4A5k30mz98K]—Lani Smith, Ohone Coll. Lib., Fremont, CA