Credits
Cornell is providing access to copyrighted materials in this digital exhibition for non-commercial educational use under an assertion of fair use. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item.
Original Publication, 2014
Exhibition Curator
Visiting curator Bill Adler selected and described the materials in this exhibition from his extensive Hip Hop archive. As Def Jam’s founding publicist, Bill worked at the label from 1984 into 1990. He began compiling this archive even before beginning work at the label, and continued to build it during his tenure there and afterwards. It contains a rich trove of recordings, books, newspaper and magazine articles, press releases, label bios and internal correspondence, publicity photos, itineraries, posters, flyers, ads, and other ephemera. The Adler Hip Hop Archive is now part of the Cornell University Hip Hop Collection.
Curatorial Assistance
Eisha Neely, Ben Ortiz, Katherine Reagan
Graphic Design, Web Design & Development
Kenneth Williams
Digital Imaging and Support
Cornell University Library Digital Consulting and Production Services: Rhea Garen
Updated Website, 2026
This online exhibition was migrated from Cornell University Library’s Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections webpages to the CUL Online Exhibitions site in 2026.
Website Migration and Development: Emily Toner, Cornell University Library Information Technology
Curatorial Updates and Consultation: Katherine Reagan, Ernest L. Stern ’56 Curator of Rare Books & Manuscripts