Hip Hop Immortals

Book excerpt: From street shots of Kool Herc and Kurtis Blow to elaborate stage shoots of Lil' Kim and Eminem, hip-hop photography has been the foundation for some of the most stylish photographs of the past two decades. Iconic images like Ice T's menacing affront to the camera while donning a full LAPD uniform, Flava Flav of Public Enemy sporting his trademark alarm clock around his neck and flashing his personalised gold teeth, and Notorious B.I.G. counting his loot, are placed side-by-side with lesser-known and previously unpublished photographs of hip-hop's biggest figures. Text by hip-hop historian Bonz Malone is laid out between lavish spreads of photographs from forty celebrated photographers, including David LaChapelle, Mark Seliger, Nitin Vadukul, Jesse Frohman, Christian Witkin, and Michel Comte. Nearly 200 colour and black-and-white photographs are featured throughout.