Born and bred in New York, photographer Ricky Powell first rose to fame through his friendship with The Beastie Boys. From there, he aimed his lens at the burgeoning and then blossoming hip-hop scene of the '80s and '90s, capturing the New York sub-culture as it developed on the city's streets. His images of Slick Rick, Run, Big L, Public Enemy, and Method Man show the old school culture of New York music thriving on the stoops, street corners, and sidewalks of the gritty city that gave it its backbone.
Powell spoke with NahRight about some of his most famous photos, including shots of LL Cool J, Rakim, and Eazy-E. In the interview, he recalls capturing an underwater photo of The Beastie Boys, taken in a pool in the Hollywood Hills, which later became part of the cover art for Paul's Boutique.
The photographer also reminisces about Run-D.M.C.'s 1987 "Together Forever Tour" with The Beastie Boys and Davey D. Before the show, Powell took a photo of the group rocking adidas track suits and gold chains in front of the Eiffel Tower. Later that night, the playful atmosphere took an unexpected turn.
"When we were in Paris, that show was crazy," Powell told NahRight. "One dude bum-rushed the stage and tried to get to Run-D.M.C., and one of Run-D.M.C.’s crew banged this dude out on stage. And then the crowd went nuts, and they bum-rushed the stage. Both groups had to duck down into the dressing rooms and lock the doors. It was interesting people down there. Keith Haring was down there. We waited like an hour, locked in this dressing room. It was kind of like when they had the riot in Long Beach on the 'Raising Hell Tour' a year earlier. We learned later that outside they were burning the buses. It turned into a riot."
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