Overview

"A cinematic narrative of glamour, grit, luxury, and luck, Fashion Killa draws on exclusive interviews with the leaders of the fashion world to tell the story of the hip-hop artists, designers, stylists, and unsung heroes who fought the power and reinvented style around the world over the last fifty years. Set in the sartorial scenes of New York, Paris, and beyond, music journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy's reporting on the intersecting histories of hip-hop and contemporary fashion focuses on the risk takers and rebels--the artists, designers, stylists, models, and tastemakers--who challenged a systemic power structure and historically reinvented the worlds of prêt-à-porter and haute couture. Fashion Killa is a classic tale of a modern renaissance, of an exclusionary industry gate-crashed by innovators, of impresarios--Sean ""Diddy"" Combs, Dapper Dan, Virgil Abloh--hoisting hip-hop from the streets to the stratosphere, of supernovas--Lil' Kim, Cardi B, and Kimora Lee Simmons--allying with kingmakers--Anna Wintour, Donatella Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ralph Lauren, and of traditionalist fashion houses--Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Saint Laurent--transformed into temples of rap gods. Krishnamurthy explores the connections between the DIY hip-hop scene and the exclusive upper-echelons of high fashion. She discusses the sociopolitical forces that defined fashion and tracks the influence of music and streetwear on the most exclusive(and exclusionary luxury brands. At the intersection of cultural commentary and oral history, Fashion Killa commemorates the contributions of hip-hop to music, fashion, and our culture at large."

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9781797167633

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Reviews

"""Exciting and exhaustive, this fun hip-hop history explains what your favorite rappers are wearing and why."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"""

"""Exciting and exhaustive, this fun hip-hop history explains what your favorite rappers are wearing and why."" -- ""Kirkus Reviews (starred)"""

Author Information

Sowmya Krishnamurthy's writing has been featured in New York magazine, Rolling Stone, Vibe, Essence, Complex, Highsnobiety, Playboy, The Village Voice, and Time. As an on-air expert and pop culture personality, she's appeared on E!, VH1, CNN, MSNBC, BBC, Sirius XM, and NPR. Most recently, she launched and hosted the weekly radio show The Lookout by SoundCloud on SiriusXM. Fashion Killa is the culmination of Sowmya's expertise in music, fashion, and pop culture and is the first book written by an Indian American female journalist in hip-hop. Angel Pean is an actor and narrator who thrives on the power of storytelling and being a part of impactful projects that leave their mark. She made her way from Houston, Texas, to NYC to attend the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. There, she obtained a degree in film and television performance. Angel has had the pleasure of training with several coaches and actors, including Jay R. Goldenberg, Maury Ginsberg, and Ruth Nerken. Her love for storytelling, as well as reading, eventually led her to explore the beautiful world of audiobooks! She began studying with narrator and coach, Elise Arsenault, has since built a home studio, and recently finished narrating her very first book: The Vampire's Assistant by Eva Alton, a romantic fantasy now available on Audible. In her free time, you'll certainly find her lounging around with her cat, or dancing. Angel currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where she is continuing to audition, work, and hone her craft.

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