[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.H I P H O P M AT T E R SManaging the various schedules and setting up a date for theshoot proved to be a serious logistical challenge.But after a series of“reschedules” several of hip hop’s most notable figures came together on September 29 for the event.Billed as “A Great Day in Harlem ’98,”the photo shoot paid homage to one of the most famous picturestaken in modern music history.Now, a bit more than forty yearslater, a new generation of cultural icons posed for pictures on thesame brownstone steps at 17 East 126th Street in Harlem that was the site of the jazz photo.Much had changed in Harlem in the world ofmusic and in American culture since that summer day in 1958.TheHarlem brownstone was now vacant, and jazz, once a cutting-edgeand popular musical genre, no longer defined what young peopleconsidered hip.The photo shoot represented a unique moment to reflect on hiphop’s phenomenal growth and undeniable impact on the worldaround it.Grandmaster Flash and DJ Herc were among those whorepresented hip hop’s pioneering days.Deborah Harry, of the rockgroup Blondie, symbolized hip hop’s reach and its influence on theavant-garde art world.Shaquille O’Neal signaled hip hop’s synergywith other arenas of entertainment like sports.And the collection of artists from diƒerent parts of the country highlighted the geographic and aesthetic diversity that made hip hop first a regional, then na-tional, and finally a global phenomenon.As the day unfolded a number of those who participated in thephoto session were touched by the opportunity to experience hiphop’s past, present, and future.Grandmaster Flash was full of pride as he basked in the pivotal role he’d had in the making of the hip-hop movement.“This is beautiful,” proclaimed Flash.“I get to see a whole lot of my old friends, new friends, people who were just pedestrians and now are superstars.God says if you remain humble, all yourblessings will come to you.Look at all my blessings!” Ahmir Thomp-son, a member of one of hip hop’s most original bands in thenineties, The Roots, documented the event with a hand-held videocamera.Like many who gathered that day he understood and appre-60 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]