Looking for the Perfect Beat
Remixing and Reshaping Hip-Hop, Rock and Rhythms
Will be published approx. on 7. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-0-571-38743-4 (ISBN)
Description
Beginning his career as a disco producer in the early 70s, Arthur Baker relocated to New York City and in the summer of 1982 produced one of the genre-defining early hip-hop tracks "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force. This began an illustrious career working with artists including Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Al Green, Pet Shop Boys, Quincy Jones, New Order, Fleetwood Mac, Hall & Oates and Neneh Cherry.
Looking for the Perfect Beat is the portrait of a pioneering artist who has been quietly influencing the sound of music for over fifty years.
Looking for the Perfect Beat is the portrait of a pioneering artist who has been quietly influencing the sound of music for over fifty years.
More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 130 mm
Width: 199 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
400 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-571-38743-4 (9780571387434)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Arthur Baker started DJing in the early-70s in his native Boston and released his first production in 1977. Moving to New York in the early 80s at the peak of disco, Arthur first heard Kraftwerk's 'Trans-Europe Express' and was inspired to transpose that evocative melody with an electronic drum track, which eventually became Afrika Bambaataa and Planet Patrol's iconic 'Planet Rock', the first electronic hip-hop tune, which had a monumental impact as electro-funk was born in NYC. As well as pioneering the 'cut 'n' paste' sampling technique, Baker also foresaw the coming dance music trend by hiring DJs to help mix his own releases to give maximum impact on the dancefloor. In the intervening years, as a producer and record label head, Arthur has released countless records and remixes and continues to DJ internationally. Alongside rapper Nas, Arthur is currently working on a Broadway musical adaptation of classic hip-hip film Beat Street. He also curates the Dancemasters compilation series and presents the 'Baker's Revenge' radio show on SiriusXM. He lives in Miami Florida.