I know I am late. I'm old. But I love everything about this (and I can't stand country music).

CONTACT HIGH - A Visual Proof Sheet History of Hip-Hop

This exhibition opens at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles tonight.

I have my PUBLIC ENEMY "It Takes A Nation Of Millions" proof sheet and the proof sheet from Beastie Boys "CHECK YOUR HEAD" LP cover session, blown up on display in this cool show.

IT WILL RUN FROM APR 26, 2019 - AUG 18, 2019

View special hours for Contact High alongside Photoville LA, April 26-28 and May 2-5

Celebrating the photographers who have played a critical role in bringing hip-hop’s visual culture to the global stage, CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History of Hip-Hop is an inside look at the work of hip-hop photographers, as told through their most intimate diaries: their unedited contact sheets.

Curated by Vikki Tobak, based on the bestselling book of the same name, and with creative direction by Fab 5 Freddy, the photographic exhibition includes nearly 140 works from 60 photographers. Guests will also see over 75 original and unedited contact sheets—from Barron Claiborne’s iconic Notorious B.I.G. portraits and early images of Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West as they first took to the scene, to Janette Beckman’s defining photos of Salt-N-Pepa, and Jamel Shabazz and Gordon Parks documenting hip-hop culture—CONTACT HIGH allows visitors to look directly through the photographer’s lens and observe all of the pictures taken during these legendary photo shoots.

The exhibit also includes an exclusive new, documentary short film – produced by the Annenberg Foundation and Radical Media – featuring a selection of CONTACT HIGH’s photographers at work and in conversation, including Barron Claiborne, Brian “B+” Cross, Eric Coleman, Estevan Oriol, Jorge Peniche, Jamel Shabazz, Janette Beckman, Joe Conzo, Jack McKain, Dana Scruggs, and Danny Clinch.

Rare videos, memorabilia, and music are included to complement the photographs, demonstrating how the documentation of a cultural phenomenon impacts politics, culture, and social movements around the world.

more information HERE.

REAL HIP HOP Boogie Down Productions - The Bridge is over

I believe I was at the show when this was filmed.

Real.

(The Club "Union Square" where the live segments were filmed, was located where "PetCo" is now on 17th st. & B'Way on the north west corner of Union Square park)

One of the Great Hip-Hop Videos ever made in the Golden Era of Rap

Rock Steady Crew (an intro)

The Earliest video I have ever seen of Run-DMC

Dick Clark Interviews Run DMC - American Bandstand 1985

This is the day I met Rick and Russell for the first time in person...

Run-DMC and Jam Master Jay... Photo from Our First Session

View this post on Instagram

RUN-DMC circa 1985 in the Wilshire District of Los Angeles. This was one of the first portraits i made with them across the street from the hotel they were staying in after taping American Bandstand with Dick Clark. Arguably the most important group in all of Hip Hop. Without them there clearly would not have been a Beastie Boys or Public Enemy , who they inspired so greatly. I have been editing through hundreds and hundreds of photographs for the new book coming in the fall TOGETHER FOREVER combining the best of my photographs of Run-DMC- JMJ and Beastie Boys and i gotta tell you it’s looking pretty great. I will post the cover and preOrder info as soon as it becomes available. #HopHop #Inspiration #integrity #KingsFromQueens #OG #NonStopGangsterHipHop #HardTimes #SuckerMCs #RockBox #TougherThanLeather #Adidas #JamMasterJay #WhatsItAllAbout #WalkThisWay #RushProductions #JosephSimmons #RUN #DarrylMcDaniels #DMC #JasonMizell #JMJ #JamMasterJay #TogetherForever #MyRules

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Jan 11, 2019 at 2:18pm PST

X-CLAN - "To The East Blackwards" one of the most underrated Hip Hop Albums ever

if the first player does not play the entire LP then just click on the players below and hear my 3 favorites from the LP.

Grandmaster Flash built his first mixer using parts from Radio Shack

from Kottke.org:

Hip hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash grew up in the Bronx and attended a public vocational high school. There he learned how to fix electronics. He was also into music — his father had a huge record collection. In this video, Flash talks about how he combined those two interests and built his first mixer using parts he bought at Radio Shack.



Grandmaster Flash was tinkerer and a hacker. There were commercially available mixers at the time; he built his own. He absorbed the nascent music culture developing around him and twisted it to his own ends, developing new mixing techniques like beat juggling. He perfected scratching and brought it to a wider audience.

Any scientist, engineer, or artist would recognize the process at work here, how tightly coupled the development of new technology and fresh ideas is. Club DJs wanted a way to transition from one record to another without missing a beat, so the mixer was invented. Once that technology existed, people started using mixers to do things other than their initial purpose. New tech begat new ideas begat new tech, the adjacent possible expanding all the while, until a curious kid who dabbled in electronics and was obsessed with music came along and helped invent hip hop, the most culturally significant movement of the past 40 years.

BONUS:

U.T.F.O. circa 1984 on my IG

U.T.F.O. In the catacombs of The Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles circa 1985. This was probably the first Hip-Hop group i ever made photos with, besides the Beastie Boys... This was around the time their huge single "Roxanne, Roxane" was hitting. The show was a real eye opener for me, the tiny stage, the lip-synching, no band, were all things i was not expecting at a huge 1000's of people live show. Kurtis Blow was headlining, and some kid got killed on the floor that night, I was told later in a big gang fight that broke out. But the most interesting story of the night happened before the show...but you'll have to ask me about that one next time you see me and we have the time... #hiphop #classicRap #UTFO #OldSchool #uncleJamsArmy #DoctorIce #mixmasterICE #TheEducatedRapper #KidKangol #humblebeginnings i think this photo appears in the collage in the back of the MY RULES book.. #inspiration #photography #BooksAreTheRealDeal #MyRules #GetTheNewBook

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Feb 3, 2016 at 6:07pm PST

RAKIM ALLAH On my IG

RAKIM ALLAH - circa 1987 on stage (with ERIC B. of course) from I don’t remember where... but I don’t think I’ve ever shown this photograph anywhere before. Obviously one of, if not the, greatest MC ever. Posting to celebrate the recently SOLD OUT yet to be performed shows here NYC ... if i am in town i hope i find a way in to see him and my old friend Eric B. #HipHop #GOAT #EricBandRakim #EricBisPresident #Rap #creator #extraordinaire #inspiration #integrity #FollowTheLeader #IAINTNOJOKE #theR #DOPE #FILM #BADASS #THEGODMC

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Mar 23, 2018 at 5:28pm PDT

Beastie Boys and Public Enemy from my IG

I don't have to tell you who this is do I? This photograph is of Public Enemy back stage with Beastie Boys at the Capitol Theater in Passaic, New Jersey, i believe it was the first stop in the "License To Ill" tour, and Public Enemy's first concert gig ever, opening for the Beasties. By the wood paneling i can tell its the same room that the ill fated home video last scene was shot in, probably one of the Beasties all time most embarrassing moments caught on video. But here with the new group on the block Public Enemy. #Hurricane #AdRock #MCA #MikeD #Flavor #chuckD #TerminatorX #DefJam #ExtraStrengthPosse #classichiphop #goldenage #TimeToGetIll #itsthenewstyle #respect #YoBumRushTheShow #PublicEnemy #TimeBomb

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Feb 1, 2016 at 9:14pm PST

LL COOL J live on stage with supersized Boom Box from my IG

LL COOL J on stage somewhere I'm guessing around 1986, based on the huge radio boom box behind him, and the classic Kangol on his head and shell toe Adidas on his feet... Good times, James Todd Smith blowin' up! So bad he could gargle with peanut butter. LL wrote an incredibly revealing essay for the MY RULES book, and along with many previously unseen photos of him the story he tells will blow you away. I'm grateful for his sharing and inspiration we all gain through his story. #hiphop #GoldenEra #DefJam #rushproductions #inspiration #godsquad #MC #RAP #FuckYouHeroes #MyRules #GetTheNewBook

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Jan 31, 2016 at 11:47am PST

Fat Boys are Back on my Instagram

The FAT BOYS circa 1985, somewhere in Hollywood on the set of a morning show of some kind. After shooting Beastie Boys, then UTFO, I think the Fat Boys were the next group i had an opportunity to make photos with. Sure they were a bit of a gimmick, but these guys were actually really talented. I saw them get on a shitty mic at a Roller Rink in South Central L.A. one evening, a mic that was so bad it could barely amplify a voice it was so whack and crackly (worse than a distorted style Beastie Boys mic from CYH) that when they were rapping not half the words could be made out. BUT when "Buffy", aka "Buff Love", aka "The Human Beat Box", "Kool Rock-Ski", and "Prince Markie Dee" started beat boxing and passing the one mike around or huddled all together around the one mic, it gave new meaning to "rockin' the house" , it was one of the top ten hip hop moments I ever witnessed, being my first time to a south central roller rink and literally being the only white person there while this whole place (over a thousand kids) started rockin' in unison was a mind blowing cultural experience that i'd never forget. I had my camera, but i believe it was so dark in there i couldn't even see well enough through the camera's view finder to focus and take a photo, so i just laid in the cut and observed the proceedings, it was a great and exciting time, by the time we left (i did come with them i believe) everyone was worn out and sweaty... Probably made this photo with them the next morning, they were in L.A. For a few days and i travelled with them for most of it, i got some other images if i find i will post over time. #hiphop #culture #hiphopbeginnings #southcentral #LA #FatBoys #HumanBeatBox #NewYorkCulture #RapMusic #theDisco3 #FatBoysAreBack #

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Jan 23, 2016 at 10:00am PST

It Takes A Nation of Millions... released 30 years ago today

PUBLIC ENEMY - CHUCK D. - Jail Cell in Hell's Kitchen 1988. This photo was taken a week or two before, the 2nd album cover, IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK. I'm proud to have been a part of this album. That was released 30 years ago TODAY. We had to do a re-shoot because Flavor actually didn’t make it to the photo session since he was actually incarcerated for some minor offense. So we made a few photos like this one and rescheduled. At that LP cover session, Flavor was very uncomfortable during the shoot as one might imagine, some one who had actually been in a cell recently might feel. IMHO it’s the greatest hip hop album ever! Chuck gave me the title of the LP when he was ready, and i threw out the idea of them breaking out of a jail, likely inspired by some listening to the tracks or just the title. What ended up on the cover was actually a photo i was not happy with, see my books THE IDEALIST (where this photo appears) and the latest book MY RULES for better images from the same day, same roll of film, and cell as that on the LP cover. Hank and Chuck wanted a photo that showed them in jail as vividly as possible, with as many 'BARS" as possible showing up in the tiny square on the cassette (at the time of its release hiphop album sales were 80% or more on cassette - probably the peak of cassette sales) ... As an artist i threatened to scratch the film negative so they couldn't use what i thought was a sub par photograph, then they hit me right back, "Glen, it's too late, its either this image or a graphic, DON'T DESTROY THE DOPE FLICK!" What could i do? I had to be down, on what i knew was a masterpiece LP. And my sequence would be on the back of the LP, used in some ad's and on the fold outs in the smaller packages.... Of course i don't regret giving in on this one. Lesson learned. BUT at least years later i am able to share all the better images in my books. You check them out and you'll get it ... #Inspiration #integrity #DefJam #PUBLICENEMY #BlackSteel #ChuckD #S1Ws #FlavorFlav #hipHop #GoldenEra #ExtraStrengthPosse #itTakesANationOfMillionsToHoldUsBack #Punk #art #composition #character #attitude #Historic #film

A post shared by glen E. friedman Ⓥ (@glenefriedman) on Jun 28, 2018 at 12:37pm PDT

SATURDAY NIGHT

PLAY THIS LOUD and get SCHOOLED.



An All Time Classic and Favorite.

My 10 Year old showed me one of the nice videos he's listening to...

The other stuff is just SO FAR OUTA CONTROL it makes what we thought was heavy seem like it's nothing?
I thought people got over the misogyny and violence, in videos and music already, damn. it's as bad as ever ...
and in music young kids are listening to... damn.

other than the consumerist bits, there's some nice thoughts in this one here...



BONUS ILL :



And this is as soft as it gets...

DJ LORD x PEYOTE CODY x PROPHETS OF RAGE METAL SHRAPNEL MOSHTAPE VOL 2

This is DOPE!



TRACKLIST:

CHUCK D MOSHTAPE DROP JAM INTRO
DJ LORD SHOW ROUTINE x (JIMI HENDRIX x MC5 x BODY COUNT x BLACK SABBATH x SLAYER)
PROPHETS OF RAGE - RADICAL EYES x (MLK x LAST POETS x GIL SCOTT HERON x ZACK DE LA ROCHA x LEE SCRATCH PERRY)
ONE DAY AS A LION - IF YOU FEAR DYING x (KRS ONE)
PUBLIC ENEMY - TOXIC x (MISFITS)
BODY COUNT - CIVIL WAR
SOUNDGARDEN - JESUS CHRIST POSE x (ISSAC HAYES x BERNARD PURDIE x JAMES BROWN)
PROPHETS OF RAGE - WHO OWNS WHO x (JAMES BROWN x CHRIS CORNELL x BEASTIE BOYS)
PUBLIC ENEMY - BEAT THEM ALL
NERVOSA - WAKE UP AND FIGHT x (JAMES BROWN x EARTH WIND AND FIRE)
DAVID AXELROD - FOR WHAT ITS WORTH x (CYPRESS HILL)
DJ LORD - WIZARD LORD SOLO x (BLACK SABBATH)
FISHBONE - RIOT
PROPHETS OF RAGE - FIRED A SHOT x (CUTTY RANKS x THE CLASH x BEASTIE BOYS x RUN DMC x BOB MARLEY)
SLAYER - TAKE CONTROL x (BUSTA RHYMES)
DJ MUGGS x MAYHEM LAUREN x ACTION BRONSON x B REAL - TENSION x (CHRIS CORNELL)
IRON MAIDEN - FLIGHT OF ICARUS x TUPAC - HOLLA IF YOU HEAR ME x RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - VIETNOW
EDAN - HELP
HEAVY METAL KINGS - GOLAN AND GLOBUS
READY FOR WAR BREAK
SCARFACE - BLACK STILL x (JUDAS PRIEST)
JUDAS PRIEST - SAINTS IN HELL
CZARFACE - NAUTICAL DEPTH
PROPHETS OF RAGE - STRENGTH IN NUMBERS x (BIG DADDY KANE x RUN DMC x JUDAS PRIEST x BETTY DAVIS)

DJ LORD: TURNTABILISM IMPERIALISM
PEYOTE CODY: MOSHUPS x RADICAL REDUCTION​

Juice Magazine "Drop In" with Glen E. Friedman Interview by Jeff Ho & Dan Levy

Juice Magazine “Drop In” Live Interview Show with Glen E. Friedman, with hosts Jeff Ho, Dan Levy and Jim Murphy, at Juice Magazine in Venice Beach, California on December 26, 2017.