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The Evolution of Rappin’ Max Robot: A Conversation with Eric Orr

Bronx legend Eric Orr, the creative force behind Rappin’ Max Robot, the first ever Hip Hop comic book, has teamed up with Serato to create a special sticker in honor of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop. As part of the #ThankYouDJs campaign, Eric drops an animated Instagram sticker featuring his iconic character, Rappin’ Max Robot.

The collaboration is part of a wider sticker pack that offers a virtual capsule of Hip Hop’s sprawling 50-year history. Adding another layer of cool, Orr’s dual role as the Artist-in-Residence and gift shop czar at the Hip Hop Museum means these stickers aren’t just for your stories; they’re getting a spot in the museum itself, with only a limited run up for grabs (coming soon). A fusion of digital and physical culture, this collab reaffirms Orr’s standing as an enduring innovator in a genre that never stops evolving. Slide into the ‘Serato HH50’ Instagram Stories search bar to get in on the action.

We sat down with Eric Orr to chat about the enduring cultural significance of his work, particularly as Hip Hop continues its artistic metamorphosis.

The Story of Rappin’ Max Robot

Rappin’ Max Robot sticker

Eric Orr’s comic book catapulted Rappin’ Max Robot onto the scene—a robotic sensation embedded in the DNA of early Hip Hop culture, thriving in a fictionalized version of the Bronx. Amid graffiti murals and epic freestyle battles, the comic became an overnight sensation. Though Rappin’ Max Robot had a limited run of just four issues, its influence left its mark, setting the stage for Hip Hop’s foray into the comic book universe.

“When I first created Max, it was just a robot. Hey, it was just a head.

Eric was actually inspired by the famous dance move, the robot, when he created Rappin’ Max Robot. He laughs before saying,”So we’re waiting for Michael Jackson. I was a big robot fan. And I like robots, and I like the technology behind all that stuff. When I first created Max, it was just a robot. Hey, it was just a head.” 

Eric lets us in on a secret – “I created this book. It was 500 pieces, made 500 copies. It was really for my friends.” Not wanting to keep Max to himself, Eric took it upon himself to distribute his comic and personally placed his comics in stores. Within no time, they were sold out.

“I saw my friends borrowing from that culture regularly… and I didn’t see any representation on the other side.”

One of the driving forces of the creation of Max came from the early Hip Hop community’s love of comic books and superheroes. He shares candidly, “I saw my friends borrowing from that culture regularly, especially when you’re out in the street painting graffiti art, you see it all the time, and I didn’t see any representation on the other side.”

He highlights the absence of reciprocity in cultural borrowing, stating, “So we’re borrowing from them, but there’s no reciprocity, you know what I mean? So I was like, let me create something for us, and I did that”. He goes on to say “It’s gonna be black people invited to the white space until we say put the money behind a project that says, this is what it is. And it’s for us.”

How did Max Turn Into the Rappin’ Max Robot We Know Today?

Eric Orr, already gaining attention for his distinctive robot head sketches, was about to find his robot’s body and its place in cultural lore. “Kids were mistaking my work for Keith Haring’s ‘Radiant Baby’,” Eric recalled. “When I saw his work, I instantly knew it was ephemeral—always changing, just like the city.”

A turning point came at a breakdancing contest. “Keith Haring was a judge, I thought he was a cop from the Vandal Squad!” Eric said. “I created my first silkscreen T-shirt with the robot head on it, and Keith spotted it. He made a beeline to me.”

“That day birthed Max Robot as we know him.”

The iconic robot head had a name by the end of the night. “He basically named it Robot Head that night,” The two artists connected immediately. “The very next day, I get a call from him, we went out, hitting up subways from Bleecker to the Brooklyn Bridge, then up to 125th and back.” The two were kicked out of the subway twice but not before creating something pretty cool.

“Keith turned to me and said, ‘Eric man, put a body on that,” and that’s how the character itself became Max Robot,” Eric revealed. The subway drawing of Max Robot, body and all, was memorialized by photographer Quan Chi on September 24th, 1984 “That photo is tucked away somewhere in my studio. That day birthed Max Robot as we know him.”

The Intersection of Hip Hop and Comic Book Culture

Eric Orr’s love of comics didn’t begin in a studio, but rather in church. “To keep myself, my brothers, and my cousins quiet in the back of the church pews, they would give us the comic section in the newspaper.” While he didn’t quite catch the spirit, he did catch an enduring love of comics.

“I am a nerd, and I do like comics. I do like animation. I love illustration. I’m an artist. So, when I went to the comic book stores and I didn’t see the representation there, I said I’m gonna do it myself.”

He explains how comic book and Hip Hop cultures have always walked hand in hand. “It’s their cousins, and I’d say that because most rappers took their names from comic characters. The Grandmaster Flash, all the Grand Masters, you got DJ Lantern, and so many others, we pulled from each other.”

He goes on to share his personal connection to comics and illustration, “I am a nerd, and I do like comics. I do like animation. I love illustration. I’m an artist. So, when I went to the comic book stores and I didn’t see the representation there, I said I’m gonna do it myself.” But don’t get it twisted, “I say nerds, but we ain’t punks. no f*** around.”

Reflecting on Hip Hop’s Organic Evolution Over 50 Years

Eric Orr isn’t sure if he’d describe his work in the early days of Hip Hop as “trailblazing” but rather, just doing what he loved with his friends. “We were just having fun, having parties. We were just entertaining ourselves because of the economic times that were going on in New York City at the time in the late ’60s and early ’80s. So, it spawned this whole… movement.”

“I’m not really sure if I’m a trailblazer. I was just doing stuff that I really loved, doing it with my friends…”

Eric Orr went on to emphasize the genuine nature of Hip Hop’s early days: “Nobody knew it was going to go in this direction. I mean, for I’d say the good part of 20 years, nobody knew what was gonna happen, it was absolutely 100% organic.”

Where Can You Find Rappin’ Max Robot Today?

As for the availability of the comic today, Eric Orr acknowledges its rarity, stating, “It’d be difficult if you can find one. Columbia has a copy being archived right now, and Cornell has a copy being archived right now. And then there’s a few floating out there somewhere. But there’s only, I can count maybe 10 offhand that I know that folks actually have physically. And I have three of them. So there’s only seven that I’ve actually seen.”

Eric’s Advice For Young Artists 

In some final words, Eric offers valuable advice to artists on the subject of authenticity. He emphasizes that, “Being authentic doesn’t mean let me go ahead and try to be different than anybody else… but to be home doing the homework.” Instead, he urges artists to delve into their creative journeys and understand the origins of their inspiration. “You got to do the whole, where’s it coming from? But I understand it’s whatever was done before. You is just coming through you in a different way.” Eric believes that this notion is what makes the genre so difficult to define. In his words, “it’s gotta be genuine.”

Want to use the sticker? Search ‘Serato Eric Orr’, or ‘Serato Max Robot’ on IG Stories or Reels.