Australian photographer Raph Rashid dropped 'Behind The Beat' in 2005. The book was a collection of photographs he had taken across the world in the home studios of producers such as Madlib, Dilla and DJ Shadow. The book became an instant classic with dusty-fingered crate diggers and home producers, and tragically, is famous for showcasing the last ever photos of J Dilla.
Flash forward 12 years and Raph's photos of Dilla have been acquired by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. The book has sold thousands of copies, and the time was right for Raph to go back to the lab.
In the sequel, Raph links up with heavy-hitters including Just Blaze, Alchemist, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Lord Finesse, jets out to Japan to shoot the spaces of DJ Juco and Mitsu, highlights the British workspaces of Format, Juliano and Vadim, and even gives Aussie producer Plutonic Lab some shine.
The book once again gives readers a unique insight into not only the spaces of the producers who have shaped the sounds of the culture for decades, but also their unique creative processes.
Back To The Lab is available now at Rapp Cats or Australian readers can find it on Papi Press.
