Egostrip Vol 1 – The Essential Hip Hop Art Book, by Dan Lish

Illustrator’s stream of consciousness series led to collaborations with world-renowned music artists. Now it’s set to launch as a collectible hardback book, digital book and lithographic prints, after a Kickstarter campaign launching 3rd of September for one month.

English artist Dan Lish is acclaimed in the hip hop world for his recasting of MCs and producers as images and cosmic forces. His 2017 album cover for Raekwon’s ‘The Wild’ sees the rapper envisaged as a giant, towering over New York. This, commissions for De La Soul and Omar, and support from names like Pharoahe Monch and Pete Rock came about through his art series Egostrip. The project sprang organically from Lish’s irrepressible imagination, masterful pen craft and deep love for the genre’s music and culture.

A compulsive sketcher, Lish’s pen has taken flight over the last six years on his commute from Brighton to his work as a games concept artist in London. His drawings capture the essence of hip hop creators, elevated in otherworldly imaginings that explore a wider vision of their craft.

“I picked up on what inspired me about the artists, whether it be a certain lyric from a classic song, or my perception of what may be going through their mind at the moment of creation.” Dan Lish

Lish’s interpretations summon the musical magic of innovators from DOOM to J Dilla and Edan. Depictions of classic rappers like Rakim and Biz Markie are fuelled by memories of Lish’s life as a Brooklyn B-boy in the 90s. He joins the dots of historical lineage with on-point references that delight music devotees.

The Egostrip series is now set to be released as a beautifully bound, highly collectible hardback art book. It collates 138 full colour illustrations along with black and white sketches and notes on the artist’s creative process, photos, anecdotes and the histories of the interconnected characters; their alter egos and worlds created in glorious analogue and digital techniques.

It will appeal to folks that have a passion for the craft and the culture of hip hop in all its forms of creativity. Master wordsmith J Live provides the foreword for the book and Raekwon has given his Chef’s kiss of approval.

To support this unique project, secure copies of the book, and bring about enhanced rewards from lithographic prints to bespoke commissions, visit here.