6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 4, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 It was 50 years ago that hip-hop reportedly originated at a New York back-to-school party. It has spread far beyond its beginnings in the Bronx to become the most popular music genre in the United States, and among the most listened to throughout the world. Fans have seen the genre evolve from disco-influenced instrumentals with carefree rhymes to the hard-hitting reality of gangsta rap to the recent drill generation. Brian Nagata, founder of the website Rapzines, has observed the evolution of hip-hop closer than most. While many fans have fond memories of the history of hip-hop, Nagata presents physical records of those times. That’s because Nagata has a collection of over 4,000 hip-hop magazines that reveal the genre’s growth—the rise of stars and the events that defined hip-hop from the past to the present. It’s a trove critical to understanding the genre. “Even with a billion dollars, I couldn’t recreate this collection,” Nagata says. “It’s important to preserve this because now it’s bigger than just my collection.” His archive includes more than just publications. There are hundreds of cassettes in milk crates, DVDs and toy figures of giants like 2Pac. Yet it is the magazines packed in shelves along the walls that contain the most memories. Growing up in East Salinas during the mid 1980s, Nagata always had an appreciation for aspects of hip-hop culture. He has fond memories of walking with a panel of linoleum flooring to breakdance on and having friends freestyle at his house. The love for hiphop was truly sparked, however, by his older brother, who shared cassette tapes of Run-DMC’s Raising Hell and Public Enemy’s Yo! Bum Rush the Show. From that point on, Nagata became a fanatic. He bought his first magazine in 1991 at the Sam Goody music store formerly in the Northridge Mall. “I opened up a copy of The Source and didn’t realize it was entirely for hip-hop,” Nagata says. “I read every single piece—even the advertisements.” The magazines served as much of a practical purpose as they did entertainment. “This was our internet back then,” he says. “I could use the magazines as a reference because these writers had the access and knowledge you could count on.” Nagata began seeking out regional publications. He would make trips to San Francisco on the hunt for new issues and, in the age of the internet, began posting ads on Craigslist inquiring for magazines. Nagata is proud to say he has never lost any to damage or misplacement. This is largely due to a dedication to preservation. That preservation seems as urgent as ever, with major magazines like The Source and Vibe no longer in publication. “Print media is kind of dead, but we lost some of the integrity with it,” Nagata says. “We’re missing out on a deeper level of insight, images and great writing.” A major intention of Nagata’s collection is to maintain a record of hip-hop history and a form of media from a bygone era. That doesn’t mean, however, that this isn’t also deeply personal. Among his collection of iconic issues are many he has come to treasure. In 2006, Death Row Records filed for bankruptcy. The label was home to the likes of 2Pac and Snoop Dog, and was largely responsible for the gangsta rap scene that defined California in the 1990s. So when the label had a goingout-of-business sale, Nagata jumped at the opportunity to buy its collection of magazines. The only problem was that he was low on funds, so he called up his late cousin. His cousin, understanding Nagata’s passion, didn’t pry into why he suddenly needed a few thousand dollars. Nagata holds the copy of BRE magazine with a warm smile on his face. “When you’re collecting, a lot of the joy comes from the story behind the item,” he says. Nagata realizes his collection is a one-of-a-kind archive. “My last move is to preserve my collection and digitize it to keep it safe,” he explains. “Because after 50 years, the music deserves to be respected and remembered.” You can check out (and purchase) some of Brian Nagata’s collection at rapzines.com. We Be The Infamous A Salinas man’s massive collection of hip-hop magazines chronicles 50 years of the genre By Ivan Garcia Brian Nagata no longer archives important hip-hop items for his own purpose. Sixty publications from his collection are currently on display in Mass Appeal’s #HipHop50 exhibit in New York. “Now it’s bigger than just my collection.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS “Graniterock has been a proud member of the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years! The social aspect of chamber membership has always been a highlight and in today's rapidly changing world the networking, support and resources afforded our company have been invaluable. I would urge any business in the area to join the chamber and as with any organization, the more involved you are, the more you will get out of it.” Join Today! at montereychamber.com “Graniterock has been a proud member of the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce for over 40 years! The social aspect of chamber membership has always been a highlight and in today's rapidly changing world the networking, support and resources afforded our company have been invaluable. I would urge any business in the area to join the chamber and as with any organization, the more involved you are, the more you will get out of it.” WHAT OUR MEMBERS ARE SAYING: — Keith Severson Graniterock, Seaside Member since 1978 montereychamber.com info@montereychamber.com 831.648.5350
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