Looking for the Perfect Beat: Remixing and Reshaping Hip-Hop, Rock and Rhythms

For fifty years as DJ, producer and remixer, Arthur Baker has been at the pioneering forefront of hip-hop, rock, and electronic music. His unique and genre-defying sound can be heard on tracks by legendary artists like New Order, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, the Rolling Stones, Al Green, Pet Shop Boys, Quincy Jones, New Edition, Hall & Oates, Neneh Cherry, Mogwai and Fleetwood Mac.

Starting as a club DJ and disco producer at the start of the seventies in his native Boston, Baker moved to New York City in 1981. Through his early disco and hip-hop productions, he came to the attention of the most influential names in a music industry at the height of its powers. This would begin a career that would take him from the sweaty dancefloors of NYC to late-night studio sessions with Bob Dylan and to his celebrated anti-apartheid album Sun City, created with Little Steven Van Zandt.

From the underground to the mainstream, Looking for the Perfect Beat is the unique story of an artist with a need to discover new sounds and new ways to move an audience -- and who has influenced the sound of popular music for half a century.

Author: Arthur Baker
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 10/07/2025
Pages: 480
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.60lbs
Size: 9.30h x 5.70w x 1.80d
ISBN: 9780571387427


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 08/18/2025
Library Journal 09/01/2025 pg. 76
Kirkus Reviews 09/15/2025

About the Author
Baker, Arthur: - Arthur Baker started DJing in the early-70s in his native Boston and released his first production in 1977. Moving to New York in the early 80s at the peak of disco, Arthur first heard Kraftwerk's 'Trans-Europe Express' and was inspired to transpose that evocative melody with an electronic drum track, which eventually became Afrika Bambaataa and Planet Patrol's iconic 'Planet Rock', the first electronic hip-hop tune, which had a monumental impact as electro-funk was born in NYC. As well as pioneering the 'cut 'n' paste' sampling technique, Baker also foresaw the coming dance music trend by hiring DJs to help mix his own releases to give maximum impact on the dancefloor. In the intervening years, as a producer and record label head, Arthur has released countless records and remixes and continues to DJ internationally. Alongside rapper Nas, Arthur is currently working on a Broadway musical adaptation of classic hip-hip film Beat Street. He also curates the Dancemasters compilation series and presents the 'Baker's Revenge' radio show on SiriusXM. He lives in Miami Florida.