Great Hip Hop Holiday Gift Ideas

Here are some great hip hop holiday gift ideas, including books, vinyl, draank and more!

So it’s Christmas once again, and you need to find gifts for everyone. There’s the sports fan in your family, but he’s easy; you can just get him the jersey of his favorite player. What about the one who loves to cook? Get them a cookbook or the hot new kitchen gadget they’re hyped about. Alright, they’re done now, so who’s left? The hip hop head. Now you’ve got a problem, don’t you? I mean, they’re always on top of the newest artists and trends, copping that fresh new gear before anyone else. What do you get the fan that’s got everything already?

Well, maybe they don’t have everything after all. There has to be something they’ve overlooked, doesn’t there? Of course there are! Here are some gift ideas for the hip hop superfan that are sure to please even the most discerning palate.

Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey

Here’s the thing about hip-hop- It’s all about authenticity. It’s about knowing your roots and celebrating them as they deserve to be. What better way to help someone connect with the history of the music and culture than a book featuring interviews with some of the people who were there in the start? Not just interviews though, this book has it all! Essays on the art form, portraits by Jonathan Mannion, and profiles of some of the biggest names the genre has ever seen. If you want to know what hip-hop is all about, this is where you start. If you already have the knowledge, this book is sure to add a new perspective to the way you see it. You can’t go wrong with this book either way.

“For those pressed for time, here’s the bottom line: If you love hip-hop, I mean really, truly, unconditionally love hip-hop, you must own two copies of Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey. You’ll need one because you’ll want to read the 400-plus pages of essays, lists of top tracks, albums and other hip-hop milestones, and mind-blowing images over and over again, and so will everyone you know. (My advice: hide a GPS tracking device inside the book cover or it will walk.)”- BlackEnterprise.com

Def Rugs

Let’s be honest here… When it comes to home fashion, there’s not a whole lot of options for the hip hop fan. It’s not like you can just walk into a furnishings store and get something that speaks to your street credibility and taste. Enter Def Rugs. There are only four rugs to choose from at the present time, but with those choices being EpMd, Naughty by Nature, Lo Life, and of course the mighty Zulu Nation, any self-respecting hip hop fan would be proud to showcase these in their home. Seeing as they are handmade as well, consider the fact that you’ll be supporting artisan culture and the DIY ethos of hip hop by grabbing one this season.

Beat Box: A Drum Machine Obsession

Hip hop is the poetry of the streets, but what can you do without the music to guide you? The music is just as important as the lyrics when it comes to the genre. This book is a necessity for the fan who can tell you all about the DJs and producers who make the magic happen and gave those poets the vehicle to get the message across. This coffee table book features 75 of the authors own drum machines with facts about each one, interviews with master programmers like Schoolly-D and Roger Linn, and advertisements and other miscellanea that’s sure to please the beat lover in your life.

“This book is astonishing. Well written, accurate information detailed and lovingly written by a collector and drum machine enthusiast. I have been producing music for ages and have had and currently have several of the machines in this book. The pages on the TR 808 alone are worth the price of the book. I have the package that includes the 7″ record and cassette complete with beats made from many of these machines and trust me it was a worthwhile purchase! Don’t miss this as I fear the book will become as difficult to obtain one day as the machines that grace its pages.”- Fredric J. Schmid

Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest

One of the most influential and talented groups of all time, A Tribe Called Quest is a must know subject for hip-hop heads. This documentary, directed by Michael Rapaport, gives viewers an in depth look into the behind the scenes struggles, successes, and strife of one of the most important crews to ever step up to the microphone. It’s a triumph of filmmaking, and must see viewing for anyone who calls themselves a serious listener. The film is available on demand with both DirecTV and Amazon, but a hard copy is equally inexpensive, probably more preferable, and definitely more wrappable – no pun intended.

“A Tribe Called Quest is one the most enduring groups of hip hop’s Golden Age. Combining jazzy loops with hard-hitting snares and fronted by two unique MCs/ personalities in Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, they banged out three classic albums in the early 90s. They were intelligent, innovative and had great chemistry. I can still vividly remember the news that they broke up: it confirmed the end of rap’s heyday, not unlike The Beatles’ break-up effectively ended the feel good 60s. So yes, they deserved a 90-minute documentary” – IMDB Review

Earl Stevens Selections

Just because you’re street doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice glass of wine. Need Proof? Just take a look at Earl Stevens Selections, the new line of wines from hip hop stalwart E-40. Coming from the Bay Area in California, E-40’s line of wine isn’t just another product with a celebrity endorsement slapped onto it. E-40 takes this product seriously, and no wonder when you consider the proximity of the well-known Napa Valley to his stomping grounds. I can’t think of a better way to protect your street cred at an upscale dinner party than showing up with a bottle of this.

The Fugees – The Score Vinyl Reissue

If you’re buying for the fan who keeps it old school and spends their weekends digging through crates at the local record store, then vinyl is always a fantastic choice. Really, this album in any form is a fantastic choice. Originally released in 1996, The Score was a benchmark for what Hip-hop as a music could be, and a rebuttal to everyone who said that the music was all about violence and drugs.

“The Fugees incredible 1996 album The Score immediately and definitively disproves all those stereotypical “sophomore slump” theories about an artist’s second album. Not so with the power trio of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel who, with help from a handpicked team of skilled producers and studio collaborators, surpassed all expectations with their critically and commercially acclaimed second album that spawned such classics as “Ready or Not,” “Fu-Gee-La,” “Killing Me Softly,” and “No Woman, No Cry.”

Check The Technique Vol 2. – More Liner Notes for Hip Hop Junkies

Technically the third in a highly-acclaimed series (Rakim Told Me, Check The Technique, Vol. 1), the newest edition from journalist Brian Coleman goes into depth and tells the stories behind another batch of hip hop’s most iconic albums. Filled with amazing behind-the-scenes looks at the album creation process from rap icons like Ice Cube, Naughty By Nature, Smif-N-Wessun, Raekwon and 3rd Bass, among many others. Check The Technique Vol 2. about as Inside Baseball as it gets, so for those with an appreciation for rap’s Golden Era, and an interest in the stories behind the music, there is no better collection out there.

BONUS: Listen to an amazing,  in-depth conversation between BirthplaceMag.com’s Manny Faces and author Brian Coleman, on The Manny Faces Show

J Dilla – The King of Beats

Finally, one more gift idea. This is a serious must have for anyone, and I mean anyone, who listens to hip-hop. J Dilla is responsible for some of the biggest hits in hip-hop history and without a doubt is one of the most important producers to touch a piece of equipment. This limited edition box set was cultivated under the direction of Jay Dees mother, following the untimely death of her son. This box set contains 40 beats on 10 inch vinyl from the Dilla’s “Batches, A special edition cassette with 6 unreleased tracks from “#LostScrolls,” a commemorative booklet, and a limited 3.5″ floppy disk designed to load on the same drum machine that the man used himself. Look, you may not know who he is, but trust me – whoever you’re getting this for does. And they will love you for it.

So there you go. Seven gifts that are sure to please your super fan this holiday season that I would bet they don’t have yet. If they do, well…Looks like they’re just getting another gift card this year.