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REVIEW

Hip-Hop's Rise and Impact Through the Lens of Three Iconic Photographers

Joseph Rodriguez, Jamel Shabazz, and Gregory Bojorquez immortalized hip hop culture, tracing its roots in the Bronx to its global cultural impact.
hip-hop-shabazz-rodriguez-bojorquez Joseph Rodriguez, For The Source Magazine, The Dirty South - a story about Master P. with C-Murder and SILK, The Shocker, New Orleans, 1997 © Joseph Rodriguez. Courtesy Galerie Bene Taschen
by Miloš Antić / October 21st, 2024

Think of New York of the 80s, and you think of the Twin Towers, Bryant Park, and the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island. But beneath the spurious glitz and glamor of the day, a bubbling subculture was taking over the streets and alleys of the gritty, crime-infested city. Originating in the Bronx, the rising hip hop culture grew to define the late 20th century globally, and through music, graffiti, and breakdancing, it gave voice to its poor, homeless, and marginalized communities.

The current exhibition HIP HOP – Living a Dream at Galerie Bene Taschen brings together the powerful works of three renowned American photographers—Jamel Shabazz, Joseph Rodriguez, and Gregory Bojorquez—who captured this cultural movement as it unfolded. Spanning from the 1980s to the early 2000s, the exhibition charts the fascinating history of hip hop, from its humble Bronx beginnings and its prodigious spread to LA to becoming a worldwide phenomenon we know today. Through a combination of photography, music, interviews, and memorabilia, the show immerses viewers in the visual, social, and musical landscape that has shaped and continues to influence global hip hop culture.

Jamel Shabazz, Kid Freeze, Manhattan, NYC, 1989
Jamel Shabazz, Kid Freeze, Manhattan, NYC, 1989 © Jamel Shabazz. Courtesy Galerie Bene Taschen

Born from the streets of post-industrial America, hip hop emerged as a vital response to poverty, violence, systemic racism, and despair in African American communities across major cities. Through hip hop, urban youth channeled their experiences into music, fashion, and visual art. Hip hop ultimately evolved into a cultural revolution that continues to influence all aspects of social life, from art and education to politics and media. 

Each in their distinct ways, Jamel Shabazz, Joseph Rodriguez, and Gregory Bojorquez captured the unique beat of hip hop culture from the 80s onward. Shabazz, a Brooklyn native, spent much of his career immersed in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods of New York. His frank images of regular people—workers, students, hairdressers, as well as rappers and breakdancers—capture the early days of hip hop against the backdrop of economic hardship in the 1980s. These photographs radiate vitality and cultural pride, conveying his subjects’ aspirations, sense of community, and personal style.

Rodriguez, acclaimed for his documentary photography that reveals the struggles and resilience of marginalized communities, offers a different perspective. His long-term project documenting East LA's gang life during the 1990s captures the visceral barrio experiences of gang members and the communities they inhabit, providing a compelling and honest insight into hip hop culture. 

These youth were rapping about the very important issues in their communities,” Rodriguez recounts. “Their music was like the newspapers of the streets.” His work explores the complex relationship between violence, poverty, and hip hop, recounting stories and events that rarely made it to the media.

Bojorquez, a native of East LA, made his name by capturing candid photos of his fellow Eastsiders. Working for L.A. Weekly, he gained an insider’s view of the street culture of LA in the 90s and early 2000s, a time when hip hop was achieving commercial success. His subjects included iconic artists like Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Eminem, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and DMX, and his close ties to the hip hop scene allowed him to shape the visual vernacular of the movement. Overall, Bojorquez’s work offers a fascinating window into the complexities of East LA during that era, documenting not only the West Coast hip hop scene but also the entire cultural ecosystem surrounding it.

Gregory Bojorquez, DPG, Downtown Los Angeles, CA 1997
Gregory Bojorquez, DPG, Downtown Los Angeles, CA 1997 © Gregory Bojorquez. Courtesy Galerie Bene Taschen

Presented together, the works of Shabazz, Rodriguez, and Bojorquez offer a nuanced visual history of hip hop by tracing its beginnings, exploring its cultural significance, and charting the movement’s evolution into a worldwide phenomenon. The works on view aren’t just a historical snapshot of the era; they also serve as a testament to the social legacy of hip hop and the people’s power to influence the tides of history. Together, these works underscore the enduring impact of hip hop, not only as a cultural movement but as a lens through which we can understand the social struggles, resilience, and creative expression that continue to shape our world.

The exhibition HIP HOP – Living a Dream will be on view at Galerie Bene Taschen in Cologne until January 18th, 2025.

Joseph Rodriguez, For The Source Magazine, The Dirty South - a story about Master P. with his No Limit Crew, New Orleans, 1997
Joseph Rodriguez, For The Source Magazine, The Dirty South - a story about Master P. with his No Limit Crew, New Orleans, 1997 © Joseph Rodriguez. Courtesy Galerie Bene Taschen
Gregory Bojorquez, Eminem & Mr. Cartoon, Spotlight Tattoo Shop Los Angeles, CA 1999
Gregory Bojorquez, Eminem & Mr. Cartoon, Spotlight Tattoo Shop Los Angeles, CA 1999 © Gregory Bojorquez. Courtesy Galerie Bene Taschen


Jamel Shabazz, 50 Cent & Crew, Downtown, Brooklyn, NYC 1985
Jamel Shabazz, 50 Cent & Crew, Downtown, Brooklyn, NYC 1985 © Jamel Shabazz. Courtesy Galerie Bene Taschen