ATL, Georgia

Description

All of the following are from or live in Atlanta or are part of the scene: Lil John, Young Jeezy, Outkast, Bubba Sparxxx, Ludacris, Cee-Lo, Usher, T.I., Gucci Mane, T-Pain, Lil Wayne Yung Joc, Travis Porter, Rich Kids, MF Doom, Goodie Mob, Soulja Boy, Killer Mike No one has profiled the scene in a book before because no one has really spent the time and gained the trust of the community and all the key players, until now. Photographer Michael Schmelling (The Wilco Book) has spent many months in Atlanta getting to know the fans and the artists, from the aspiring bedroom rappers to club kids to international superstars. The level of trust and access he has to this amazing world is obvious in the images that he presents, and in the interviews he's been able to conduct that will be part of this book. His images are fresh and real. Text includes an essay by the photographer, captions for the images, interviews from players in the Atlanta scene (including Atlanta figures Andre 3000 and Big Boi from Outkast, Gucci Mane, and Puffy (to give another major outsider's persepctive--he's east coast), and an introduction and explanatory text throughout by NYT/New Yorker music writer Kelefa Sanneh. People used to call Atlanta 'ATL'; there was a movie by that title. The new handle for it, which kids actually get tattooed on their bodies, is 'THE A,' and along with an explanatory subtitle. The book itself is being priced out to be a cool object. Designed by famous book designer Rodrigo Corral. Possibly including a poster/jacket. The author has also gotten permission to offer an exclusive digital 'mixtape' (they still call them that) available with a download code included in the book, featuring Atlanta artists. As a piece of artwork in the book, we'll also include (and make availabelfor download) a special cover for the mixtape designed by an established mixtape cover artists based in Atlanta---another measure of how authentic this is.

Michael Schmelling is a photographer and director. His photos have appeared in Fader, The Wire, The New York Times, and The New York Art Book Fair, as well as in The Wilco Book, on the covers of books by George Saunders and Chuck Palahniuk, and at the New Museum of Contemporary Art and the Tate Modern. He lives in New York City. Kelefa Sanneh (introduction) writes on music and other subjects for the New York Times, New Yorker, and other publications. Rodrigo Corral is a famous book designer whose work includes the cover of James Frey's A Million Little Pieces and the Olsen twins' book Influence. He also designs numerous books for New Directions.