We have a bit of a sweet spot for street art. So we’re all over Street Knowledge — a brand new encyclopedia and insider’s guide to street art culture around the world from King Adz and Harper Collins, tracing the evolution of the movement from its groundbreaking days in 1980’s New York to the bleeding-edge work of modern-day Iranian artists. From old-school graffiti legends to modern street art icons, including film-makers, designers, DJ’s, writers and poets, the book reveals the deep and lateral penetration of street art across just about every aspect of contemporary culture.

Street Knowledge features interviews with some of world’s most influential street art talent, including Banksy (but of course…), Quik, Shepard Fairey and the Obey crew, Martha Cooper, David LaChapelle, Tony Kaye and many more, in addition to an ambitious roster of up-and-comers from across the globe.

But perhaps what makes the book most compelling is that, by virtue of placing the featured street art in the context of the cities where it appears, it doubles as an underground guide to the hottest art, culture, music, fashion, dining and film spots in some of the world’s hippest cities.

Street Knowledge comes out in March 2011 in the US (but is already available for pre-order) and is out in the UK this week.