Collecting is an obsession for many people (including our Editor). Whether it be stamps, trading cards, antiques, vinyl or anything else, most people start modestly, get hooked, and build their collection bit-by-bit over time. For some, it takes over their life. And when the thing you happen to be collecting is anything related to hip-hop, there’s a whole lot to get. One man on a mission to get his hands on every piece of rap product is a mysterious and elusive collector known only by the nickname ‘Todd‘. As the owner of the most extensive collection of hip-hop music, toys, merchandise and promo items we’ve ever seen, his is a hoard few can likely match. We spoke to Todd about his self-styled Rap Museum, and some of the items in it.
Tell us about the collection. How many items does it hold in total?
Easily over 10,000 items.
And what kind of artifacts are included?
I have about 8,000+ CDs, 1,000+ cassettes, 400+ toys, 200+ hip-hop books, and about 300 pieces of vinyl. I also have some miscellaneous stuff, like Bone Thugs-n-Harmony ‘food stamps’, MC Lars ‘Robot Jump Drive’, and an Atmosphere cassette that was put in a cigarette pack for Mr. Dibbs.
Where does it all come from? We are guessing eBay helps a lot?
I buy the majority of my items from Discogs, UGHH, eBay and Amazon. But I have to say that via Twitter, some artists have sold me their entire discography. Thanks to Mega Ran, Open Mike Eagle, Marq Spekt, Canibus, K-Rino, Moka Only, Uncommon Nasa and Apollo Brown just to name a few.
What’s your personal favorite item?
My favorite is easily K-Rino’s Rhyme Book (Number 7 to be exact). It has the hand written rhymes for songs like Grand Deception, Two Sides to The Story and The Canvas in it. We met each other and really clicked. I made him an offer and he accepted it, knowing it was in good hands. We still talk to this day about once a month.
What would you say is the weirdest thing in the collection?
Joell Ortiz house slippers, used to promote the House Slippers album.
What would be the Holy Grail – something very rare that is hard to get?
The Holy Grail to me is the Eminem Infinite album I have on cassette and vinyl, the original versions.
Most expensive thing your have purchased for the collection?
The most I ever spent on any items were these two things: the Nipsey Hussle Mailbox Money album for $1,000, and the Apollo Brown Make Do album, both on CD.
Anything missing that you badly want?
I would like to complete the Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy scarf collection. I only bought one when it was available, and now they are obsolete. There are five total.
You call it a museum. Can people actually see the collection?
Yes and no. I mainly just post pictures on Twitter of obscure items and complete MC discographies. But some artists have come to see my collection when they do a concert in my area.
Follow the collection on Twitter @RapMuseum.
