1 How are you doing Tom?
All fine Paul, thanks for asking.
2 Where does your love for hip hop come from, what was your first hip hop single/album that you heard and what was your reaction?
Well it all started on the playground of my school back in the late 80’s when one of my best friends came to me with a cassette on which he recorded N.W.A. and Public Enemy. I put the cassette in my walkman and was directly hooked to it. It was something totally different from what I heard before.
Back in the days everything was still on cassettes, but I clearly remember buying the Beastie Boys’ “Licensed to Ill” as the first official hip hop album that I ever bought.
Later on when I got a job working as a student it really started buying more and more, the cd area had arrived as well at that time.
The collecting itself really started rolling when I met my later to be partner in crime Stijn Coppens who at the time had an enormous collection of hip hop cd’s at home. When entering his living room and listening to all his stuff I immediately knew I wanted all of them as well…And so I started collecting more and more.
3 So you’re the Hip Hop Collector and you got your own website www.hiphopcollector.com Can you tell us what it is that you collect?
Basically it’s very easy, everything that I come across and I don’t have I try to get in my collection. At the moment I have more than 7000 hip hop cd’s, records and cassettes and I’m pretty sure it will grow constantly. I know very well that’s impossible to have everything, but you won’t hear me complain. Also I have hundreds of hip hop magazines, DVDs, books & memorabilia… Some years ago I started thinking about making my own website to share it with the world…It took me some time to get everything online as I wanted to do everything myself and therefore I had to learn how all those web creating programs worked. But looking at al reactions I get I think I did a pretty good job. It can always be better, but the site is of course in constant evolution.
4 What is the goal of your website?
Main goal is to pay respect to all the hip hop pioneers. Without them hip hop would never have been what it became and sadly enough some people forget this. But you’ll see that quality hip hop from nowadays also gets a place on the site, because good hip hop is still out there. You just have to look for it…
5 What are your favorite albums and/or singles?
Good question…Of course I can sum up all the classics like Public Enemy, RUN DMC, Ice-T... But to be honest, for me it depends from day to day. By this I mean what mood I’m in, what the weather it is outside, etc… As music is a lot about emotions.
But too really pick one I really adore I have to go for Real Live – The Turnaround: A Long Awaited Drama album. All hip hop heads will probably know it. The album is simply amazing.
6 Do you have a favorite album from 2011?
Got that question as well a few weeks ago and I stay with my choice. Maybe not the most obvious choice but I really really loved “The Family Sign” album from Atmosphere released on Rhyme Sayers Entertainment. An album with a lot of emotions in it.
7 You’re also a photographer, where does that passion come from?
Again my partner in crime Stijn Coppens comes in the picture here. When going to concerts he was always the photographer and me the assistant. Call it carrying around all his stuff, haha…
Later on I got a camera for my birthday from my girlfriend and from than on I started making pictures myself as well…Together with Stijn we are now trying to capture each hip hop concert in our surroundings.
8 Do you only capture artists with your camera?
For now yes…The collecting, my website and these concerts take already a lot of my time. Need to spend some quality time with the family as well.
9 Who did you have in front of your lens, can you give some names?
It goes from Public Enemy to the Wu-Tang Clan, from Redman to Funkdoobiest…Naughthy By Nature, Rakim, you name ‘em…You can find the full list and all pictures on my website.
10 Who would you still like to capture with your camera?
I would really love to meet King T and Ice-T once, both some of my favorite rappers and getting them in front of my camera will be an awesome experience. Further also all members of the SPC, being the South Park Coalition. Maybe for the bigger public not so known, but they are pioneers from the South. Scarface and the other Geto Boys would be lovely as well. The list goes on and on actually…
11 Who are the upcoming artists you will meet?
It of course all depends on who is coming overseas to do some shows in Belgium or the Netherlands. And when they come it’s always still an adventure to get to them. I just did Dead Prez last week and for now the artists that are coming are The Coup, Public Enemy, The Beatnuts, RA The Rugged Man, The Roots, Slaughterhouse…
12 Is it possible to buy the pictures you took?
For now it’s not yet possible, but I’m thinking of a master plan. To be continued I should say so…
13 Can people follow Tom Aelbrecht on Twitter and/or Facebook?
Tom Aelbrecht is indeed on Facebook, but due to the 5000 friends limit from Facebook I was obliged to create a fan page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hip-Hop-Collector/156995880983332
I recently discovered Twitter as well; you can follow me via @HHC_hiphop
All info can be found as well on www.hiphopcollector.com
14 What did you think of this interview?
Great fun, it’s always nice to reflect about the past and my project.
Tom, thank you very much for your time and hope to meet you soon one day.
Thank you for having me; it was a great pleasure doing this. Pretty sure we’ll meet one day.
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