Talking With Ed Piskor All About 50 Years Of Hip Hop And ‘Hip Hop Family Tree: The Ominbus’

It will be no news to Hip Hop fans that this year marks the 50th anniversary of a cultural phenomenon that changed the world. And to celebrate in style Fantagraphics are collecting Ed Piskor’s Hip Hop Family Tree into one hardback omnibus with over 140 pages of additional new material. And, as someone who also grew up listening to RUN-DMC, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys and many, many more, I was more than thrilled to be able to speak with Ed about this new collection. 

Olly MacNamee: Ed, Hip Hop Family Tree series has become the stuff of legends amongst my Hip Hop lovin’ non-comic book reading friends. But, as you know, it’s been hard to find in recent years. You must be very pleased on it’s re-release for Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary. How did this new release come about?

Ed Piskor: We’ve kept the original books in print but sometimes stores don’t like making money. I think it might even be as simple as “Facebook Memories” that made me realize that we’re hitting the 10 year anniversary soon. You can’t take for granted that a book gets to live 10 years, so when it does, we have to celebrate it in style. Hip Hop Family Tree Omnibus is the best book I’ve ever made.

MacNamee: It’s an immense wealth of stories. Even with the internet, and your own index, this must have been som undertaking. What were some of the harder stories to corroborate?

Piskor: For almost everything in the comic I could find a few sources. The one place where I had to go with the legend is KRS-One’s homeless past. There were pieces where he hit the shelter system, but there are plenty of stories he tells that we have to take his word.

MacNamee: And what are some of your stone-cold favourite tales that you included?

Piskor: It was great unpacking some of the Hollywood movies and dissecting them with as much detail as possible. Flicks like Wild Style, Style Wars, Krush Groove, and Beat Street.

MacNamee: Were there any surprises you uncovered when putting this magnum opus together?

Piskor: I look at my old work and I can never believe I was able to take the time to make, but then I’m working on stuff all the time that will probably give me the same reaction.

MacNamee: And what was the initially reaction in the Hip Hop community? I mean, judging by the legends you have contributing quotes in this book, it seems to have been well received. “Ed Piskor is the shit!” Is one of my all-time favourite endorsements of any book!

Piskor: Hip Hop Family Tree would never have received popularity without the benefit of word-of-mouth thanks to the players in the game. I was putting strips out every Tuesday when these comics first saw the light of day. Each week a new rapper, DJ, or impresario would be sharing the comics on their social media platforms. I keep that in mind whenever my presence offends the insecurity of crybabies on the internet.

MacNamee: Who, through reaching out or through word-of-mouth, delivered the most jaw dropping, fan-boy moment to you?

Piskor: I think getting routine phone calls from Biz Markie wasn’t something I ever expected to happen. Rest in peace. Also, my greatest collaboration to date was working with Public Enemy on a set of action figures.

MacNamee: Here in the UK many of us discovered Hip Hop through the Electro anthology albums of the ‘80s. Me included. Doug E. Fresh’s ‘The Show’ blew me and my mates away. But, what was the one track, or LP, that got you hooked? 

Piskor: I love that video of Doug E Fresh and Ricky D on Top of the Pops in the UK. I honestly can’t call it. Rap music was the music of the town as I was growing up. As a kid I knew if I bought almost any tapes with a Def Jam logo they’d be decent…up to a certain year.

MacNamee: One last one. What you listening to at the moment? Any recommendations?

Piskor: For some reason Gorillaz is my favorite music to listen to right now.

MacNamee: Ed, it’s been an honour interviewing you, so many thanks for your time.

Hip Hop Family Tree: The Ominbus is out Wednesday 18th October from Fantagraphics