Gunner Stahl is easily the biggest hip-hop photographer in the game right now. The 25-year-old from Atlanta hit the scene in 2014 and quickly made a name for himself as your favorite rapper's favorite photographer. Known for his gritty, up close and personal style of shooting, Stahl has taken some of the most iconic rap photos in recent history.
With an impressive portfolio that includes portraits of stars like Kanye West, Young Thug, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Uzi Vert, and many more, Stahl has become a bit of a star in his own right. He's released two portrait books, hosted multiple galleries to showcase his work, and now his latest move is a collaboration with PUMA.
The most notable attribute that sets him apart from other photographers is his use of 35 millimeter film cameras, instead of a typical DSLR. The simplicity of the analog medium has allowed him to capture the real rawness of his rap subjects in a way that modern digital cameras can't. The same aesthetic of raw simplicity lends well to streetwear fashion and the PUMA x Gunner Stahl collection does just that.
Last week, to kick off the collaboration, PUMA and Stahl hosted an exhibit of his portraits and a pop-up shop in New York City to release a collection of hats. Beanies, snapbacks, and dad hats were done in pink to commemorate his late mother who passed away from breast cancer. The next drop will consist of black, grey, and olive— tones distinctive to his style of photography.
In addition to dropping two of Stahl’s hats, PUMA is set to debut several new sneakers in Long Beach, California, at this year’s annual ComplexCon ahead of their worldwide release. The new drops consist of three pairs of Tsugi Juns, the Muse Echo, and the Phenom Suede. PUMA will also preview selected styles from their Suede 50 collaborative drops.
The first Tsugi Jun comes in a sleek black and grey colorway designed for those who can’t help but envision, create, and hustle. Next, a two-sneaker collection dubbed the Tsugi Jun "Cubism" Pack features bold color blocking and geometric designs. To top it off, a who’s who of hip-hop royalty–including Dave East, A$AP Twelvyy, Sonny Digital, and Mick Jenkins– will be rocking different iterations of the progressive sneaker at the PUMA space come ComplexCon weekend.
Available for the first time, the all-new Muse Echo is performance-inspired and fashion-forward. It features a woven upper, a drastic tongue and ankle collar, and sits on top of a unique two-piece split sole. Lastly, the Phenom Suede is a high top sock-like silhouette that packs the support of a performance training sneaker, while maintaining a stylish design.
The PUMA x Gunner Stahl headwear collection and sneakers launch Saturday, November 4 at ComplexCon.
