Current:Home > My25 years on, a look back at one of the most iconic photographs in hip-hop history-InfoLens
25 years on, a look back at one of the most iconic photographs in hip-hop history
View Date:2024-12-23 12:02:10
New York City — Friday will mark the 25th anniversary of one of the most iconic moments in music history — when 177 of the greatest artists in hip-hop gathered together on a city block in Harlem for a cover photograph for XXL Magazine.
The photograph, taken on Sept. 29, 1998, included musicians Rakim, Common, Mos Def, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes and Questlove, among countless others.
"I knew it," Fat Joe, one of rap's first Latino superstars, told CBS News on whether he was aware at the time the image would become historic. "On that day, seeing so many of my peers, so many people that I looked up to…we knew that was history."
At the time, the photo was a recreation of another iconic photograph taken in the same spot by photographer Art Kane in 1958 that featured 57 of the world's greatest jazz musicians. That photo was used in Esquire Magazine to mark the end of the golden age of jazz.
"Just to pay homage to the jazz legends, and basically, their children in hip-hop, you know, all these artists basically came out of that jazz, came out of that genius," Sheena Lester, who was the XXL editor-in-chief at the time the photograph was taken, told CBS News.
Lester said the idea for the photograph was brought up in an editorial meeting.
"Once it was brought up, I couldn't let it go," Lester said. "It was too good an idea to not follow through."
The photograph was made magical when Lester convinced famed photographer Gordon Parks, who was 86 years old at the time, to snap the picture into history.
Lester said Parks initially turned the magazine down until she spoke to him directly and conveyed their vision.
"Once I basically told him that we had determined that nobody else could take this photo but him," Lester said. "…We knew that he should take the picture because of who he was, and because of what this was, nobody else could take it. And then he said yes. Because I think he knew then that we knew what we were asking for."
This year marks hip-hop's 50th anniversary, a music genre born out of struggle that grew all the way up into a multi-billion-dollar industry.
- In:
- Harlem
- hip hop
- Questlove
- New York
Jericka Duncan is a national correspondent based in New York City and the anchor for Sunday's edition of the "CBS Weekend News."
TwitterveryGood! (164)
Related
- Federal judge denies request to block measure revoking Arkansas casino license
- Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez are officially divorced
- Run, Don’t Walk to Coach Outlet to Save 20% Off Bundles That’re a Match Made in Heaven
- Car crashes into a West Portal bus stop in San Francisco leaving 3 dead, infant injured
- Deommodore Lenoir contract details: 49ers ink DB to $92 million extension
- An Alabama sculpture park evokes the painful history of slavery
- $510 Dodgers jerseys and $150 caps. Behold the price of being an Ohtani fan in Japan
- Former Mississippi Archives and History department leader Elbert Hilliard dies at age 87
- Fantasy football buy low, sell high: 10 trade targets for Week 11
- Uber driver hits and kills a toddler after dropping her family at their Houston home
Ranking
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- Sunken 18th century British warship in Florida identified as the lost 'HMS Tyger'
- California Lottery reveals name of man representing a group of winners of second-largest US jackpot
- The April 8 solar eclipse could impact power. Here's why.
- Paraguay vs. Argentina live updates: Watch Messi play World Cup qualifying match tonight
- How Static Noise from Taylor Swift's New Album is No. 1 on iTunes
- New Jersey’s unique primary ballot design seems to face skepticism from judge in lawsuit
- It's 2024 and I'm sick of silly TV shows about politics.
Recommendation
-
Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier
-
The longest-serving member of the Alabama House resigns after pleading guilty to federal charges
-
Student at Alabama A&M University injured in shooting
-
Federal court rules firearm restrictions on defendants awaiting trial are constitutional
-
Wall Street makes wagers on the likely winners and losers in a second Trump term
-
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby vows to keep passengers safe after multiple mishaps
-
Brenda Song says fiancé Macaulay Culkin helps her feel 'so confident'
-
Celine Dion shares health update in rare photo with sons