Atlanta

Atlanta - Hip-Hop and the South

Since the late 1990s, Atlanta has become a dominant center of hip-hophome to mega-selling artists like OutKast, T-Pain, and T.I., and host to an electric mix of superstars, aspiring young rappers, and inspired fans. In Atlanta, photographer Michael Schmelling documents the artists, the fans, and the musical vitality of a city that is always redefining hip-hop. Featuring more than 160 photos, from up-and-coming rappers to club kids to multiplatinum artists, Atlanta also includes essays on the city's hip hop culture by writer Kelefa Sanneh, interviews with key Atlanta figures like Gucci Mane, Andr 3000, Big Boi, Shawty Lo, Ludacris, and The-Dream, and a download mixtape of unreleased tracks.



Michael Schmelling is a photographer, director, and author of several photo books, as well as the principal photographer for The Wilco Book. Schmelling's images have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, and have been exhibited widely in the United States and Europe. He lives in New York City.

Kelefa Sanneh is a staff writer at the New Yorker and a former pop music critic for the New York Times. He lives in New York City.

Will Welch is an associate editor at GQ and the former deputy editor of The Fader. Born and raised in Atlanta, he now lives in New York City.