Synopsis
The greatest untold story in the history of hip-hop, this is the first-ever complete account of the scene, street-savvy stars, and daring record label that launched West Coast hip-hop into the American mainstream and produced the hits that dominated the ’80s and ’90s—with previously unseen material, photos, and exclusive interviews.
WITH A FOREWORD BY B-REAL OF CYPRESS HILL
In 1987, hip-hop was at a tipping point: coastally, commercially, and creatively. New York City ruled the culture, while its hottest record label Def Jam was king. Yet out in LA, a new crew was ready to challenge for the crown, and their fresh spin would upend the industry as the decade reached its peak.
Two Los Angeles dance club DJs, Matt Dike and Mike Ross, started their own independent label in Matt’s cramped apartment on Santa Monica Boulevard and called it Delicious Vinyl. Hoping to press a few thousand records locally, they signed unknown rappers Tone Loc and Young MC, and after recording “Wild Thing,” “Funky Cold Medina,” and “Bust a Move,” they soon sold nearly ten million copies worldwide. For a fleeting, shining time, aligned with a stunning series of collaborators, Matt Dike was the hottest music producer in the world. Iconic artist Jean-Michael Basquiat, director John Hughes, and the Beastie Boys all entered Matt’s inner circle. Then, at the height of his success, Dike disappeared from the scene. Mysteriously, he cut himself loose from his closest friends, colleagues, and family. The life, career, and secrets of “the Howard Hughes of hip-hop” became the stuff of legend.
Now, journalist Peter Relic unpacks the truth behind an exhilarating, never-before-told story of the city, the era, and the blazing creativity that changed the landscape of both rap and pop. Filled with unforgettable characters and drawing on dozens of exclusive interviews—including the only in-person sit-down with the enigmatic Matt Dike—Bust a Move is the answer to a mystery, and a celebration of a monumental musical legacy.
About the Author
Peter Relic is a journalist who has worked on staff and written for the most prominent hip-hop publications of the past 25 years, including VIBE, XXL, Rap Pages, and the Beastie Boys’ highly influential zine Grand Royal. As associate editor at VIBE, he wrote the magazine’s first stories on Eminem and Serena Williams, and his XXL magazine story on the Geto Boys was anthologized in Best American Music Writing, edited by Mary Gaitskill. His work has also appeared in Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, Architectural Digest, and The Plain Dealer. He lives in Georgia, where he is senior writer, public relations, at Savannah College of Art and Design.
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