For the higher a part of the final decade, Daupe! has stood because the undisputed heavyweight champion of underground rap bodily media. The UK-based label’s limited-to-death pressings of Westside Gunn, Conway, Mach-Hommy, and the remainder of the Griselda prolonged universe have develop into the holy grail for collectors worldwide—typically promoting out in seconds and commanding astronomical resale costs. Now, one devoted superfan has executed the not possible: documented the complete run in a single, breathtaking artifact. Scott Cardoza, a 15-year vinyl veteran and self-described “hardcore hip hop head,” has opened his private archive to create Unobtainium Vol. 1, a 322-page, 12″x12″ limited-edition e-book that captures the entire assortment of Daupe’s signature obi strips for releases 1 by 85. This isn’t only a catalog, it’s the one full visible report of those strips in existence, making this quantity fairly actually the rarest Daupe! archive ever assembled.
However Unobtainium is way over a documentation challenge. Cardoza has elevated the fabric by commissioning reimagined paintings from an all-star lineup of underground visible legends. Contributors together with Large Ghost, CXP, KipDaFog, Squatdeadface, Isaac Pelayo, and 1000 Phrases have hand-altered the visuals, every making use of their private imprint to remodel the acquainted Daupe! aesthetic into one thing totally new and putting. The e-book serves as each a time capsule of the label’s monumental run, that includes basic releases from Benny the Butcher, Rome Streetz, Estee Nack, Daniel Son, and Crimeapple alongside the standard Griselda suspects, and a celebration of the symbiotic relationship between rap music and visible artwork. Restricted copies exist worldwide, and true to the Daupe! spirit, after they’re gone, they’re gone perpetually. Take a look at the complete assortment at daupelords.myshopify.com
