With a clever use of type and black & white photography, graphic designer Fred McClelland personifies Hip Hop like never before. This project brings light to how important the letter is to MCs throughout the culture's history as legendary artists become as bold as Hip Hop's attitude.

"This was a small project that was created for fun to explore masking and simple techniques. I have seen many different variations of the ABC's over the years but I never have I really seen any that showcased a list of people within a specific subject matter.

I have always been mezmurized by a talented lyricist that doesnt have to neccessarily use the crutch of profanity to make his rhymes flow smoothly. At first I thought that I could come up with individuals that played an important role in the growth of the Hip-Hop community, but settling on who will be representing each letter turned out to be a huge task.

Some of you may not recognize a few of the faces but each one has made a large impact on this music genre, whether it is negative or positive.

That being said I hope you enjoy this project." - Fred McClelland

View the full exhibition here and enjoy the ABC's of Hip Hop in a mix courtesy of Dope Folks Records who assembles a set of rarities for your listening pleasure.