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HIPHOPOGRAPHY January 27 2009 Art & Los Angeles & Music & Old School
To borrow from one of my favorite movies, Brown Sugar, I fell in love with hiphop when I was about 9. A Tribe Called Quest, The Fat Boys, and LL Cool J pretty much got me hooked. Not long after that, I became increasingly interested in the elements associated with hiphop. Besides the music, there was oversized fashion - jackets, tees, pants, and even laces. There was cardboard box breakdancing, a particular type of language, and graffiti art. But when I got older, I started to neglect the genre that reminded me so much of childhood.Until I became familiar with Martha Cooper. An American photojournalist now in her 60s, Cooper is responsible for photographing the most definitive images of the abovementioned culture. Largely shot in New York decades ago, she portrays the lives of the hustling young and old. Whether they'd be dancing, tagging, or MCing, these subjects wanted to send a message, just as hiphop wanted to.
Lucky for me, Shepard Fairey's gallery, Subliminal Projects, is currently home to some of these photos. The exhibit called "Street Shots" primarily focuses on inner city kids. I don't know their stories, but I felt a sense of imagination as they were photographed in abandoned lots, desolate alleys, and empty subway carts.
If you have time to spare, you should check it out. Studio Number One: 1331 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026
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