No Half Steppin': An Oral and Pictorial History of New York City Club the Latin Quarter and the Birth of Hip-Hop's Golden Era

You could walk into the club a nobody and come out a star.No Half Steppin' — An Oral and Pictorial History of New York City Club the Latin Quarter and the Birth of Hip-Hop's Golden Era is 212 pages with over 175 color photographs and flyers from the greatest time in hip-hop history. Author Claude “Paradise” Gray was raised in the South Bronx. Paradise is also a noted writer, photographer, and hip-hop historian/archivist, as confirmed with this book, No Half Steppin', where his personal collection of photographs and memories—paired with an oral history from some of the club's most famous patrons—tell the story of the most important incubator of talent for the Golden Era of hip-hop.During the mid- to late ’80s, legends were born in that bustling Times Square club—from Stetsasonic, KRS-One, and Eric B. He was

"Must-read for hip-hop fans and anyone that is interested in 1st hand accounts of a burgeoning genre being created on the fly." according to Steve Costa. Incredible oral and pictorial history of the legendary Latin Quarters club. If you love hip-hop, this is a must read and should be required reading for all those getting into the culture. I was transported to 1986-1987 I was 1Must-read for hip-hop fans and anyone that is interested in 1st hand accounts of a burgeoning genre being created on the fly. Incredible oral and pictorial history of the legendary Latin Quarters club. If you love hip-hop, this is a must read and should be required reading for all those getting into the culture. I was transported to 1986-1987 I was 13 years old in my suburb of Boston and feeling the progression from the early / mid 80's era to the Golden Era that Rakim, BDP,PE and others spearheaded.Amazing stories and pictures . years old in my suburb of Boston and feeling the progression from the early / mid 80's era to the Golden Era that Rakim, BDP,PE and others spearheaded.Amazing stories and pictures . Cee Bee said This book is the real deal!. If you want a first-hand account about the Latin quarters and the role this club played during the Golden Era of hip-hop this is the book for you hands down the best book I have read in regards to any New York hip hop club!!. Love, love this book! Mika B. Waller This book has become an essential item on our coffee table. My husband is an avid LP collector. I know nothing about records. But, we both thought this book was fantastic. Once we got it, we couldn't stop turning the pages. We've left it on our coffee table for the past month. All of our friends who come over start thumbing through and laughing hysterically. They won't put it down until they've gone throu

-Christopher "Play" Martin . "This book is the missing link!" -Fab 5 Freddy "Brilliant! This captures the essence of hip-hop culture." -Cey Adams, visual artist, graphic designer, and author; founding creative director of Def Jam Recordings "The photos and text are some if the the earliest record of hip-hop, even before it started being called hip-hop. The work and priceless photographs that are in this masterpiece are incredible and salute to Claude Paradise Gray and Giuseppe Pipitone for an awesome work. No bookshelf or library or collection of books on hip-hop can dare call itself complete with this vibrant NO HALF STEPPIN' in it front and center." -Ernie Pan

Wax Poetics illuminates the dark corners of our sonic past, while also striving to give new and innovative artists the credit they truly deserve. First published in December 2001, Brooklyn-born Wax Poetics hit newsstands with a new vision for music journalism, creating a bridge between the past and present of hip-hop, jazz, funk, soul, r