Burien Author/Journalist explores Seattle’s hip-hop roots in new book ‘The Birth of Seattle Rap’ – The B-Town (Burien) Blog

Author and music journalist Ben Camp –aka Novocaine132 – a longtime resident of Burien’s Chelsea Park neighborhood, has released his latest book, The Birth of Seattle Rap, a deep dive into the origins of hip-hop in the Emerald City. Published by Arcadia Publishing’s History Press, the new book explores the rise of local rap artists and the cultural shift that began in the area in the early 1980s. As disco faded from prominence, hip-hop emerged as a dominant force in Seattle’s music scene. From the Grammy-winning Sir Mix-A-Lot to pioneering groups like Silver Chain Gang and Jam Delight, the city produced groundbreaking talent that shaped the region’s cultural identity and left a lasting impact on global hip-hop.