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since 1991

Welcome to the official Bomb Hip-Hop website.
What is the Bomb Hip-Hop company?

1. - The Magazine
2. - The Record Label
3. - The Events

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1. - THE MAGAZINE (1991-1996)

If one was to trace the roots of Bay Area hip-hop the common thread would be the legendary Bomb magazine created by Bay Area dj David Paul in 1991. The black & white 'zine focuses on all four elements (djing, mcing, graffiti, breakin') of the hip-hop culture on the local, national and international level. The caliber of writers that wrote for the Bomb during it's existence (1991-1996) was extraordinary, writers like Funken-Klein (R.I.P.), Billy Jam, Spence Dookey, Cheo Coker, Jazzbo, Faisal Ahmed, Dave Tompkins, DJ Shadow, Kutmasta Kurt and many others who have all wrote or are currently writing for major publications or have moved on to other fields of the music industry. At that time there were very few other hip-hop publications and the large ones didn't really cover independent or new groups so the publication was well received by hip-hop fans throughout the world.



In 1992 The Bomb Hip-Hop Magazine issued two flexidiscs by a then unknown Dan the Automator (of Dr. Octagon, Deltron, Gorillaz fame), Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf and other artists. In 1994 Bomb released the first Bomb album titled "Bomb Hip-Hop Compilation" that featured Blackalicious, Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf, Mystik Journeymen, Madchild (Swollen Members), Q-bert as well as many others that the magazine had been in contact with by receiving and reviewing their demos. This was the birth of Bomb Hip-Hop turning into a record label.


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2. - THE RECORD LABEL (1995 - 2009)

Over the last 20 years Bomb Hip-Hop's influence and contribution to the promotion of the four elements of hip-hop (dj, mc, breaking, graffiti) is undeniable. Bomb has expanded since it's humble beginnings in 1991 as a hip-hop publication to "one of the fifteen independent labels that matter" according to Rolling Stone magazine. Bomb Hip-Hop is a grass roots record label that releases alternative hip-hop music which includes rap, turntablism and instrumental compilations as well as full-length albums by artists.


Bomb's Return of the DJ series was ranked by Spin Magazine as #25 in their "The 90 Greatest Albums of the 90's" (Sept. 1999 issue), receiving a higher rating than Gold & Platinum albums by Lauryn Hill, Pearl Jam, Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Metallica, Green Day and Fatboy Slim. Return of the DJ is featured in the movie Scratch playing on the Sundance channel and available on DVD (Palm/WB).



Having been credited with the revival of the D.J. as an artist in their own right for the Return of the DJ series, the label is also known for spotlighting Hip Hop from around the world. Bomb has presented compilations and solo projects from the U.K., Denmark, Switzerland, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Japan and Australia, including beatboxing and b-boying (breakdancing) albums for a total of over 100 releases. Some of the artists that have appeared on releases from Bomb Hip-Hop include Dilated Peoples, Blackalicious, J-Live, Cut Chemist, Qbert, DJ Craze, Z-Trip, Rob Swift, Roc Raida, Mr. Dibbs, DJ Honda, DJ Format, Peanut Butter Wolf, Swollen Members, Defari, A.G., Jedi Mind Tricks, Mystik Journeymen, DJ JS-1, Rahzel, Immortal Technique, Kid Koala, Mixmaster Mike of the Beastie Boys and many, many more.

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3. - THE EVENTS (1992 - current)

Bomb Hip-Hop has produced various concerts and club nights from the early 90's to the present featuring some of the most cutting edge hip-hop artists including; Kool Keith, Aceyalone, Invisibl Skratch Picklz (Q-Bert, Disk, Shortkut, Mixmaster Mike), Blackalicious, Jurassic 5, Beat Junkies (Rhettmatic, J Rocc, Babu, Melo D), Mystik Journeymen, Supernatural, Volume 10, Schoolly D, Akinyele featuring Rob Swift, Shakey featuring Rahzel the Human Beatbox, Ultramagmetic MCs, Pete Nice & Daddy Rich, Alkaholiks, Pharcyde, Masta Ace, Freestyle Fellowship, Nas, DJ Craze, Dan the Automator, DJ Swamp, J-Zone, Grandwizzard Theodore, DJ Shadow and Tommy Boy recording artist House of Pain (with B-Real from Cypress Hill).

In March of 2003 Bomb flipped the script and brought West Coast hip-hop to European hip-hop fans. Foreign Legion, Azeem, DJ T-Rock and Dave Paul all travelled to Europe for 15 shows. For more info and photos from the European tour click here. For info on the DJ's & MC's TOUR west coast tour click here. For info on the RETURN OF THE DJ TOUR mini-tour click here.

For info and photos from our popular Prince and Michael parties click here.