Rob Swift and Rasul Mowatt: The City of Hip-Hop

The City of Hip-Hop positions a unique conceptualization of the history of hip-hop, namely that it was political, economic, and social forces that produced the environment for hip-hop to grow specifically in the geographies of New York City and its boroughs. This book argues that it was the political forces of the 1970s, combined with the economic forces of free-market capitalism, the privatization of public services, neoliberalism, and the deindustrialization of major cities, that led to the cultural creation of the “Boogie Down” Bronx. The City of Hip-Hop shows how hip-hop is a socio-political reaction that creates an alternate reality with a geographic specificity, and it is this interplay with those forces that nurtured it to become a cultural force. Once those of us, as fans of the culture, zoom out to see the bigger picture, a need for criticism and retelling of the culture and art of hip-hop emerges.

This book is essential for students, scholars, and general readers interested in urban planning, urban design, urban geography, placemaking, American Studies, Cultural Studies, Black Studies, and Latin American Studies.

Rob Swift, a DJ par excellence, stands out for his unique contributions to the art of DJing and more incredible hip-hop. His first crowning achievement was winning the DMC East Coast title in 1992. As a founding member of the X-Ecutioners DJ crew, he played a pivotal role in shaping the DJ culture. Today, Rob Swift has continued his relentless pursuit of fresh directions, expanding his palette into the stratosphere of the academic world and spending his time teaching worldwide. He’s lectured at Case Western Reserve University and Cuyahoga Community College (Cleveland, Ohio), and Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana) and participated in on-site and virtual workshops for entities such as the American Embassy Tajikistan, Colombia, and the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, Rob recently taught accredited courses in the art of DJing at The New School University (NYC) and is currently the chief academic officer of Brolic Army DJ School.

Rasul Mowatt has been professionally DJing since ’84 under the names “Rasul, DJ”; “The Governor”; and more recently, “The Exile”. Since beginning his passion for DJing in Chicago during the peak/golden era of House Music in the city, Rasul was heavily influenced by the spirit of Frankie Knuckles, the genius of Ron Hardy, and the abilities of Lil Louis, Farley Keith, and Pharris Thomas. Over the span of years, Rasul has DJed as an opener in Chicago at Sauers Lounge, Medusa’s, AKA’s, The Double Door, Subterranean, Divine, and the legendary Funky Buddha Lounge in Chicago as well as having DJed in New York, Miami, Glasgow, and London. Due to living a double life as a college Department Head and Professor at North Carolina State University, Rasul researches Geographies of Race, Geographies of Violence, Animation of Public Space, and has published numerous articles and the following books: The Geographies of Threat and the Production of Violence: The City and State Between Us and Laundering Black Rage: The Washing of Black Death, People, Property, and Profits, were respectively published with Routledge in 2021 and 2024. Rasul teaches and DJs with one focus: “What comes from the heart will touch the spirit”.