The Cornell Hip Hop Collection

Cornell Library’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections features a significant archive on the history of hip hop, documenting its emergence in the Bronx in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Cornell’s hip hop collection documents the origins and growth of hip hop culture through the preservation of its original artifacts. The collection includes the largest institutionally assembled collection of early hip hop recordings on vinyl (7,000 recordings and growing), sound files of early battles and live performances, the photographic archive of Bronx photographer Joe Conzo, Jr., several hundred 1970s and 1980s hip hop party and event flyers, including the working archive of noted flyer artist Buddy Esquire, the archive of Breakbeat Lenny, books, magazines, textiles and more.

Building upon the Division’s substantial collections documenting 19th and 20th century American life, the hip hop archive is open to the public.

The founding core of materials in Cornell’s hip hop collection were the gift of collector and author Johan Kugelberg. Materials in the collection form the basis for the book Born in the Bronx: a Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip Hop (2007) edited by Johan Kugelberg (author), Afrika Bambaataa (foreword), Buddy Esquire (contributor), Jeff Chang (contributor) and Joe Conzo (photographer).

A small selection of photographs, original posters, performers, and more are available online. Much more coming soon.

Please contact us for more information about the collection, to request a class presentation, or to donate materials.


The Cornell Hip Hop Collection Cornell Library’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections features a significant archive on the history of hip hop, documenting its emergence in the Bronx in the 1970s and early 1980s. Cornell’s hip hop collection documents the origins and growth of hip hop culture through the preservation of its original artifacts. The collection includes the largest institutionally assembled collection of early hip hop recordings on vinyl (7,000 recordings and growing), sound files of early battles and live performances, the photographic archive of Bronx photographer Joe Conzo, Jr., several hundred 1970s and 1980s hip hop party and event flyers, including the working archive of noted flyer artist Buddy Esquire, the archive of Breakbeat Lenny, books, magazines, textiles and more. Building upon the Division’s substantial collections documenting 19th and 20th century American life, the hip hop archive is open to the public. The founding core of materials in Cornell’s hip hop collection were the gift of collector and author Johan Kugelberg. Materials in the collection form the basis for the book Born in the Bronx: a Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip Hop (2007) edited by Johan Kugelberg (author), Afrika Bambaataa (foreword), Buddy Esquire (contributor), Jeff Chang (contributor) and Joe Conzo (photographer). A small selection of photographs, original posters, performers, and more are available online. Much more coming soon. Please contact us for more information about the collection, to request a class presentation, or to donate materials.