In 2001, the Brussels-based association promoting urban arts, Lezarts Urbains, opened its Documentation centre at the 4th floor of the Saint-Gilles’ library.

If you want to discover or to improve your knowledge on everything linked to Hip-Hop and Street Art, you should definitely take some time to flick through the Centre’s archives. You’ll have a large overview of what hip-hop is from its origin till now and you will for sure discover some treasures that will bring you back in the days.

The Lezarts Urbains documentation centre doesn’t only give you the chance to read books, magazines and articles on the Hip hop culture. You’ll also have the chance to discover some DVDs and CDs to know more about rap, dance, graffiti…

To sum up, it’s the perfect place for you if you have to write a study/essay on a subject linked to hip hop. On top of that, Lezarts Urbains developed a pedagogical tool (in French) for teachers and activity organizers to explain the HH culture to kids.

Lezarts Urbains being a Belgian association, you’ll of course have access to a lot of archives linked to the Belgian hip hop history with a lot of interviews of Belgian artists. They classified plenty articles on the various Belgian HH bands and collectives, published in Belgian and international magazines. You could find the same for international HH.

The Centre being part of a local library, you can consult the books, magazines, DVDs… there or take it at home for 15 days. You can also consult their online database.

Practical info:
Lezarts Urbains documentation centre
Bibliothèque de Saint-Gilles
Rue de Rome, 24-28
1060 Brussels

Opening hours: Wedensday from 2pm to 5 pm &Friday from 3pm to 5pm

Website (in French)
Contact: [email protected] / [email protected]