SDCC Sneak Peek: Hip Hop Chronicles

[Christian Beranek]

Been working on this for quite some time with my friends at Universal Music. Preview book will be available at the Zenescope booth in San Diego. I penned two of the tales: Crates, co-written with one of my best buds Jiba Anderson, and DMX's Damien.

What we did was take the lyrics of the great MCs and turn them into stories. It turned out to be a pretty amazing GN that you'll be able to buy later this year.

Check out some preview images...

[A.Huerta]

I dont know...

Think you couldve pushed it further with hip-hop/urban design elements and Graffiti title.

[Genius J]

I'm kinda glad it doesn't have that. It would seem too cliche.

[TheKraken]

I dont know...

Think you couldve pushed it further with hip-hop/urban design elements and Graffiti title.

Damien Scott's issue of Solo was an experiment in just that. While really cool to look at, it really hampered the storytelling most of the time...

[A.Huerta]

I'm kinda glad it doesn't have that. It would seem too cliche.

IMO, it looks generic. Ive never seen nice pieces done well on urban comics before. Honestly, most urban books Ive seen at cons have been horrible and look like they get their ideas from the movies or MTV. We like graffiti/vibrant colors/grit. You may think its cliche but we like that stuff.

Damien Scott's issue of Solo was an experiment in just that. While really cool to look at, it really hampered the storytelling most of the time...

I picked that up. It doesnt work with Super-heroes, tho. Plus your average super-hero reader wouldnt appreciate it, theyd prolly hate it.

EDIT: Heres a "cover" I did 2 yrs. ago for a urban oriented story of mine http://www.outcaststudios.com/origin...w/images/L.jpg even tho I think its weak, its kind of an example of what I'm talking about.

[Jason Rodriguez]

"Rap is not pop, if you call it that then stop."

[Christian Beranek]

IMO, it looks generic. Ive never seen nice pieces done well on urban comics before. Honestly, most urban books Ive seen at cons have been horrible and look like they get their ideas from the movies or MTV. We like graffiti/vibrant colors/grit. You may think its cliche but we like that stuff.

I picked that up. It doesnt work with Super-heroes, tho. Plus your average super-hero reader wouldnt appreciate it, theyd prolly hate it.

I appreciate your comments. Believe me, this was all discussed on so many levels. The direction we went with was one the hip hop community rallied behind.

One of our creative partners is Tina Davis, former VP of A&R for Def Jam. We have also gotten approval from Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, to use his image in the book. And the person doing the introduction for the GN... well, I think you'll be excited to hear who it is.

I hope you'll give a shot, because as creators we feel we've treated the source material with respect.

Thanks,

--CB

[Genius J]

EDIT: Heres a "cover" I did 2 yrs. ago for a urban oriented story of mine http://www.outcaststudios.com/origin...w/images/L.jpg even tho I think its weak, its kind of an example of what I'm talking about.

I'm sorry, but I find that kind of writing extremely difficult to read. Apparently the name of the book was "The JAGT FLITE".

[Christian Beranek]

"Rap is not pop, if you call it that then stop."

I love Tribe, too. Maybe we'll do a story based on that song in a future volume.

[A.Huerta]

I appreciate your comments. Believe me, this was all discussed on so many levels. The direction we went with was one the hip hop community rallied behind.

One of our creative partners is Tina Davis, former VP of A&R for Def Jam. We have also gotten approval from Afeni Shakur, Tupac's mother, to use his image in the book. And the person doing the introduction for the GN... well, I think you'll be excited to hear who it is.

I hope you'll give a shot, because as creators we feel we've treated the source material with respect.

Thanks,

--CB

Ill def. check it out. Glad you got people in the biz behind it. However, my opinions on that biz these days is a not a good one.