The greatest untold story in the history of hip-hop, this is the first-ever complete account of the scene, street-savvy stars, and daring record label that launched West Coast hip-hop into the American mainstream and produced the hits that dominated the ’80s and ’90s—with previously unseen material, photos, and exclusive interviews. In 1987, hip-hop was at a tipping point: coastally, commercially, and creatively. New York City ruled the culture, while its hottest record label Def Jam was king. Yet out in LA, a new crew was ready to challenge for the crown, and their fresh spin would upend the industry as the decade reached its peak. Two Los Angeles dance club DJs, Matt Dike and Mike Ross, started their own independent label in Matt’s cramped apartment on Santa Monica Boulevard and called it Delicious Vinyl. Hoping to press a few thousand records locally, they signed unknown rappers Tone Loc and Young MC, and after recording “Wild Thing,” “Funky Cold Medina,” and “Bust a Move,” they soon sold nearly ten million copies worldwide. For a fleeting, shining time, aligned with a stunning series of collaborators, Matt Dike was the hottest music producer in the world. Iconic artist Jean-Michael Basquiat, director John Hughes, and the Beastie Boys all entered Matt’s inner circle. Then, at the height of his success, Dike disappeared from the scene. Mysteriously, he cut himself loose from his closest friends, colleagues, and family. The life, career, and secrets of “the Howard Hughes of hip-hop” became the stuff of legend. Now, journalist Peter Relic unpacks the truth behind an exhilarating, never-before-told story of the city, the era, and the blazing creativity that changed the landscape of both rap and pop. Filled with unforgettable characters and drawing on dozens of exclusive interviews—including the only in-person sit-down with the enigmatic Matt Dike— Bust a Move is the answer to a mystery, and a celebration of a monumental musical legacy. Praise for Bust a Move “Throughout the 1980s, hip-hop had stormed pop culture’s citadel, yet it didn’t take over until it came out west—where Matt Dike, Mike Ross, and the artists who built Delicious Vinyl were concocting an undeniable sound. Like the big hits they delivered, Peter Relic’s narrative is well crafted, deep with stars, and full of life. Bust a Move perfectly captures hip-hop’s dawn-breaking energy just at the moment it came of age.” —Jeff Chang, author of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation “This is a rare book about creating art, and creating a scene that is also art. Peter Relic conveys how alive you can feel up close to the best stuff and how baffled you can feel when close to the artist who made it. Bust a Move is a deeply informed book that wears its research lightly, puts you at the center of an urgent and frivolous time, and makes you wish it were here again.” —RJ Smith, author of Chuck Berry: An American Life “Like unearthing a rare gem in a record store crate, Bust a Move spotlights the legacy of a true, unsung pioneer of American hip-hop. With vivid, addictive storytelling, Peter Relic transports you to the late ’80s when tracks being cut in a musty closet on Santa Monica Boulevard magically ascended into global pop culture. This is the stuff of legend—and tragedy. A must-read for any music lover.” —Luke Korem, director of Milli Vanilli and Dealt “ Bust a Move tells the extraordinary story of two young music producers who unleashed new sounds upon the world with their record label Delicious Vinyl, ensuring LA’s hip-hop scene would match, or surpass, the scene in New York City, as master storyteller Peter Relic zooms smoothly from the big social picture to the most intimate, personal details that offer a front-row seat of a scene as it simmered, boiled, and exploded. Relic’s account of visiting the reclusive Matt Dike at his home is itself worth the price of the book—a killer read.” —James Lough, author of This Ain’t No Holiday Inn: Down and Out at the Chelsea Hotel 1980–1995 “Part mystery, part oral history, Bust a Move exposes a hidden hub in the hip-hop network and the characters it connected on the cusp of the 1990s. This is the secret story of music obsessive Matt Dike and a Who’s Who of those who knew him, as well as a fresh look at how LA Loc’ed and loped onto the map of rap—Relic’s writing is as delicious as the vinyl.” —Roy Christopher, author of Dead Precedents: How Hip-Hop Defines the Future “You hold in your hands a gift: Peter Relic has given us a thorough and passionate page-turner about a fascinating era in hip-hop history. It is a tale of rivalries, ambition, and pure love for an art form that would eventually rise to the tippiest heights of global culture. As soon as I finished, I wanted to drop that beat again.” —Reid Mitenbuler, author of Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age Peter Relic is a journalist who has worked on staff and written for th