RESPECT Magazine (2024)

14/04/2024

NEW YORK – The New York City Mayor’s Office and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) have unveiled an installation of historical, never-before-seen photographs documenting what is known as “The Greatest Day in Hip-Hop History” in the City Hall Rotunda. The installation features legendary hip-hop figures including Rakim, Slick Rick, Fat Joe, Da Brat, E-40, Busta Rhymes, Reverend Run, Naughty By Nature, who gathered to participate in a photo shoot led by renowned Black photographer Gordon Parks to pay homage to Art Kane’s “A Great Day in Harlem.”
The installation was made possible thanks to iD8Studios, Musinart and RESPECT. magazine — The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture. The exhibition at City Hall features images that take viewers behind the scenes for “The Greatest Day in Hip-Hop History.” In 1998, hip-hop magazine XXL and their Editor-in-Chief Sheena Lester set out to remake Art Kane’s legendary 1958 Esquire magazine photo shoot, known as “A Great Day In Harlem,” with hip-hop artists. Kane’s image featured 57 of the greatest jazz musicians of the time gathered around the stoop at 17 West 126th street in Harlem. XXL were looking to pay homage to that iconic image by gathering hip-hop legends on the same stoop 40 years later. Renowned Black photographer Gordon Parks was recruited, and ultimately 177 rappers were assembled in Harlem. The photos remain as defining for hip-hop culture as the original photo shoot was for jazz.

Members of the public can visit the installation by joining a public tour of City Hall. The installation will be on view through June 2024. See LINK IN BIO

Rev Run Arrives / © Johanna Fiore / Managed by iD8

Jazz Photograph by Art Kane – Courtesy © Art Kane Archive – ArtKane.com

30/03/2024

To be associate editor of SLAM magazine at age 23 was one thing — an incredible thrill and a job I felt lucky to have (thank you, DP and Tony G.!), but one that I also felt I’d worked toward, having treated basketball fandom as a part-time job since I was 10 years old and having been paid to cover the sport for several years already. I’d also read SLAM since its very first issue dropped in 1994. But to inherit the same title at XXL — a rising hip-hop publication suddenly led by a gifted leader in the space, Sheena Lester — felt like a true gift. I was a basketball journalist but still very much a hip-hop fan. In a way, though, one prepared me for the other. As the XXL staff prepared for the Great Day and began to track who was going to show up on 126th Street, excitement mounted. Slick Rick is going to be there? Scarface?! Tribe?! The freakin’ Wu-Tang Clan?! I was going to be in the presence of artists I’d bumped in dorm rooms and cars, seen in concerts but never been, you know, face to face with. But I had my SLAM experience to lean on. SLAM had already sent me to numerous games to do countless interviews — I had even been in the Chicago Bulls’ locker room during the ’98 NBA Finals a couple months earlier. So I had learned … no autographs. No geeking out. Keep it professional! So when September 29 rolled around, and interacting with these amazing rappers face to face was my job — literally, Datwon Thomas and I were tasked with shooting Polaroids and getting signed releases from every single artist who came through — I was able to keep my cool. Except when Rakim showed up..
—Ben Osborne

More From Ben Osborne:
“I found these negatives of these photos years after taking them and barely remember just how vibrant the colors were that afternoon. Of course I remember the day, and I know I played a big role — that day and especially producing the issue — but to see this personal photo I took when my work was done, years after the fact, is an incredibly strong reminder that I was right there. Gives me goosebumps, to be honest.”

08/11/2022

RESPECT. ARCHIVE: UP IN SMOKE— Premiere issue. “He just smokes. You have no choice––it’s either that or you go home. This was a no–choicer, really.”

– Phil Knott
LINK IN BIO FOR STORY Artist:
Photographer:
Date: Saturday, January 1, 2005

07/11/2022

Respect In Peace.

A Photo Tribute to a Legend.

In Memory of TAKEOFF. “A lot of older artists feel like they’ve got to look down on the young generation instead of saluting them and giving them a hand up, not even knowing that we look up to you. I feel like they should help instead of looking down on somebody.”

IMAGES:

RESPECT. FOUNDER:

INTERVIEWER:

STORY AND PHOTOS COPYRIGHT MUSINART LLC.

07/11/2022

Respect In Peace.

A Photo Tribute to a Legend.

In Memory of TAKEOFF. “A lot of older artists feel like they’ve got to look down on the young generation instead of saluting them and giving them a hand up, not even knowing that we look up to you. I feel like they should help instead of looking down on somebody.”

IMAGES:

RESPECT. FOUNDER:

INTERVIEWER:

STORY AND PHOTOS COPYRIGHT MUSINART LLC.

01/11/2022

RESPECT. IN PEACE. PERIOD

01/11/2022

R.I.P. TAKEOFF // RESPECT. sends its condolences to the entire family and relatives of TAKEOFF regarding the tragedy of his murder at 2:30 am Nov. 1, 2022 in Houston, while a group gathered outside a bowling alley rolling dice. Please take a moment of silence as you view this photo of him from the RESPECT. 2017 Annual captured by photographer

22/10/2022

Leica X Bape collab is one for the ages. A modern classic with a dash of drip ... to add to your drip when you click. X 🔥 ⚡️

18/10/2022

RESPECT. Archive DERICK G ....Whether he’s directing a photo shoot or racing though the streets in his whip, Derick G always has his wheels turning. CLICK LINK IN BIO FOR FULL STORY.
Words: Tony Gervino

Images: Derick G

Photo Editors: Casey Levine & Perreault

Designer: Davina lennard-Alladlce

“I went with the whole Young Money/Cash Money crew to Paris, and it was wild, man,” he laughs. “We were in a country where not everyone speaks English, and yet everyone was singing Wayne’s lyrics back to him word for word. I was sitting onstage taking pictures, watching the entire crowd rapping ‘Mr. Carter,’ and I was bugging out.” -

15/10/2022

RESPECT. Tribute to 18th Anniversary of Murder Was The Case soundtrack release on October 14, 1992. Sharing with a later gem of from photographer . Image shot in South Central Los Angeles Saturday, June 20, 1998
“We went out to L.A., to f**kin’ South Central. Literally, we put a white piece of paper in his backyard against the wall of his house. Outside of his house, in the backyard with the dogs barking, everybody drinking, smoking blunts and screaming at him, and we put the s**t up—shot it day- light, no lights, no flash, no nothing—just bop, bop, bop, one, two, three, we’re done, we’re out of there.”
– Piotr Sikora

Photo copyright Piotr Sikora

13/10/2022

Flash moment ... USHER. Captured by Kenneth Cappello. Philadelphia, Fall 2004.

“The chicks like Usher, but you don’t see him flaunting chicks. I guess he was married for a long time. I just thought it would be cool to put him in this context that I’ve never seen him in: Women like this dude; let’s put him in between a girl’s legs. I don’t know if Jonnetta, his mom, would be happy, but it made sense to me. The girl was a random model who shot for editorial for GQ, but they never used that shot. I was looking at the print and I was like, ‘This looks like where Usher should be.’” - as told to RESPECT. magazine

12/10/2022

Photographer: Ben Watts] RESPECT. Premiere Issue #1. THIS ENGLISHMAN
DOESN’T TAKE PICTURES.
He tries to catch lightning in a bottle and then take a flick of that.
“I was, as a teenager, really interested in cult—cult fashion, cult music, cult gear. I was like a rudeboy back in England, listening to ska music”
Images: Ben Watts Ben Watts]

Photo Editor: Sally Berman

Designer: Paul Scirecalabrisotto

RESPECT. Founder: J® hiphopphotography CLICK LINK IN BIO FOR FULL STORY AND LAYOUTS

11/10/2022

RESPECT. Archive. Issue #5. Derick G feature. 2011
Artists: Lil Wayne & Nicki Minaj
Date: February 2010
Location: On the set of “Knock Out,” Miami

“I’ve never even shot on film,” he says, laughing. “I’m the new breed. The last time I shot with film was in middle school.”
– Derick G

07/10/2022

Two decades ago today Sense dropped his debut album: Can I Borrow a Dollar? Released October 6, 1992
Record Label: . So we dial it back to RESPECT. Archive to issue #9. Quotes like: "I like a woman that’s strong. Like, ‘Yo, when necessary, I’m going out to achieve these things on my own.’ But still knows how to let a man be a man in the home, too.” - Common goto the feature interview exclusive LINK IN BIO ... DON’T HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE Yup. He’s an actor. And now a best-selling author. But don’t get it twisted: Chicago’s Common is still an amazing MC. Check the rhymes.
Words: Elliott Wilson
IMAGES: all images © JOAO CANZIANI

06/10/2022

RESPECT. Archive / Photographer

“I kind of had a preconceived [notion] of how he would be just based off his image and the image of G-Unit in general. He was quiet, but he was super nice. He knows who he is and how he wants to be portrayed. He’s throwing me the middle finger. Maybe it’s for me, or maybe he just wants to tell everyone, ‘F**k off!’”

Artist: LLOYD BANKS Photographer: Jimmy Fontaine
Date: Friday, October 15, 2010
Location: New York, NY
RESPECT. Archive: Issue #11

05/10/2022

RESPECT. Archive Issue #15. We looks back at this excerpt from Pamela Littky’s extraordinary work featuring Mr. Carter that was showcased in RESPECT. in 2013.

LIL WAYNE by Pamela Littky
Los Angeles, 2007

“That was my second time working with him, and I honestly just love the s**t out of him. He’s such a sweet guy, and super willing, and really fun. I really enjoyed that shoot. I went back and I was looking at all the proofs, and it’s so much…he’s just laughing, and you can tell we were having this really fun exchange.”
– Pamela Littky see complete post on respect-mag.com

03/10/2022

DRAKE ... Fade Back a decade ... "Despite the constant criticism, there’s no denying that Drake is one of the best hip-hop artists our culture has to offer. He did Take Care his way and triumphed. To the Victor go the spoils." - RESPECT. magazine issue #11 May, 2012. Words: 📷 ------ “I really like the way I make music. I’m no longer in question. And if it’s not hip-hop to some people…I care so much less every day because I see the results.” - DRAKE CLICK LINK IN BIO to read full cover story!

01/10/2022

BOW WOW
Atlanta, 2010
“Bow Wow photographed for XXL magazine in 2010. This was also shot with large-format Polaroid film. It was during a snowstorm in Atlanta, and I didn’t have enough light to shoot inside the sneaker boutique where we started. But he was a great sport and sat for me out in the snow as I fumbled with the giant 4×5 camera.” - BRYAN MELTZ .meltz Meltz has been fascinated by photography since she was 18. Working part-time for a photographer, she was amazed by the darkroom and the transition that the photos took from the camera to prints. Wanting to further her expertise in photography, Meltz moved to California and majored in visual journalism at a photojournalism school. It was the start to a very promising journey.
As time went on, Meltz not only became quite the experienced photographer, she was on everyone’s radar. Her enticing photographs caught the attention of The Fader magazine, and in 2006 they asked her to photograph rapper Blak Jak. It was Meltz’s first photo shoot, and of course everyone was beyond confused why a woman with the name Bryan showed up instead of a man. Much to Meltz’s surprise, the confusion broke the ice and the shoot ran smoothly. This was the beginning of a long-standing relationship between The Fader and Meltz. LINK IN BIO FOR FULL STORY FROM RESPECT. ARCHIVE (issue #20) ALL IMAGES © BRYAN MELTZ

01/10/2022

BOW WOW
Atlanta, 2010
“Bow Wow photographed for XXL magazine in 2010. This was also shot with large-format Polaroid film. It was during a snowstorm in Atlanta, and I didn’t have enough light to shoot inside the sneaker boutique where we started. But he was a great sport and sat for me out in the snow as I fumbled with the giant 4×5 camera.” - BRYAN MELTZ .meltz Meltz has been fascinated by photography since she was 18. Working part-time for a photographer, she was amazed by the darkroom and the transition that the photos took from the camera to prints. Wanting to further her expertise in photography, Meltz moved to California and majored in visual journalism at a photojournalism school. It was the start to a very promising journey.
As time went on, Meltz not only became quite the experienced photographer, she was on everyone’s radar. Her enticing photographs caught the attention of The Fader magazine, and in 2006 they asked her to photograph rapper Blak Jak. It was Meltz’s first photo shoot, and of course everyone was beyond confused why a woman with the name Bryan showed up instead of a man. Much to Meltz’s surprise, the confusion broke the ice and the shoot ran smoothly. This was the beginning of a long-standing relationship between The Fader and Meltz. LINK IN BIO FOR FULL STORY FROM RESPECT. ARCHIVE (issue #20)

29/09/2022

PnB Rock We salute you in mind, body & spirit. R.I.P. King CLICK LINK IN BIO for EXCLUSIVE PnB photo gallery from RESPECT. 2016 shoot of Birth of a New Nation Tour, featuring rising stars Dae Dae, Shy Grizzy & PnB RockRock

28/09/2022

“One day when I was supposed to shoot State Property, I was waiting for them on a bus, and for some reason, in comes Nas. This was at the height of the Nas-Jay beef, so when Nas asked if this was the Vibe shoot, I told him no. I was shooting State Property for XXL, and I prayed he would just get the hell off the bus. As he left he told me, ‘Tell Beans what’s up.’ Yeah, right.”
Artists: & State Property
Photographer: Mike Schreiber
Date: Monday, January 1, 2001
Location: Brooklyn, NY
RESPECT. Issue #: 20

25/09/2022

RESPECT. #23 Archive "Before my shoot for Puma for Complex, I asked Donald to do a few frames in this bathroom that had a working payphone and this great red light. We couldn’t believe it actually worked but nobody was willing to touch it."

Artists: Childish Gambino aldglover
Photographer amd quote: Kyle Christy
Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA

18/09/2022

RESPECT. archive. Throwback Sunday ... "While I was with Anthony Hamilton, about an hour before his stage time, he wanted to see Kanye perform… Obviously, I did too. Once we approached the "VIP" entrance, the event security refused my access but, they let Anthony in. With some quick thinking, I immediately started pretending I was Anthony’s bodyguard. I was flexing my muscles, I puffed my chest out, and I tried to make a vein pop up in my forehead. I semi-threatened the guy. It wasn’t long before he let me enter. The second I crossed that threshold, I went into my backpack for my 5D Mark III. Showtime! Days later on Instagram, jokingly, Anthony commented, 'I didn’t feel safe either bruh! Lol.'"

Artists:
Photographer:
LaVan Anderson
Date: Sunday, July 20, 2014
Location: Nashville, TN. 📷

13/09/2022

RESPECT #24 Photo Archive Feature. "This was probably one of those nights I would like to forget. I made it just in time to the Shoreline Amphitheatre to catch Big Sean and j. Cole, who were dope by the way. Oh, and I lost over $3,000 worth of photo equipment that night—long story. Shout-out to the good samaritan in that 50,000-plus crowd who turned my stuff in to the lost and found."

Artists: J.Cole
Photographer: Abe Coloma
Date: Sunday, July 19, 2015
Location: Mountain View, CA
📷: Abe Coloma

13/09/2022

RESPECT #24 Archive. "Shooting the Weeknd is tough. I have come to notice that lights are not a popular choice of his during his shows. This guy likes to perform in the dark, but he definitely knows how to put on a dope show. Shout-out to Abel for consistently making innovative music. So much dope energy from this night."

Artist: The Weeknd
📷: Abe Coloma
Date: Friday, October 10, 2014
Location: San Francisco, CA

08/08/2022

RESPECT.
The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.
A picture says a thousand words ...
.I.

Over a Decade of Excellence.
RESPECT.

20/02/2022

RESPECT. #23 Todd Spoth Archive

"Paul Wall signing autographs for fans following a performance in his hometown is about as honest a Paul Wall photo as they come. I have watched Paul for almost a decade now and he definitely one of the most humble and honest artists that I’ve worked with and he has this incredibly brilliant way of always making you feel like you are the most important person in the world whether you’ve known him all your life or you met him once. You can’t copy that from Instagram."

Artist: Paul Wall
Photographers: Todd Spoth
Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Location: Houston, TX

18/02/2022

RESPECT. #24 Trevor Traynor Archive

"This was rumored to be one of the last Digital Underground shows. He was so smooth He was backstage, and he was just sitting there, tearing up the ivory. He has crazy piano skills. I didn't know. I knew he had production skills, but I didn't know. It was kind of surreal to see. We had a couple of beers and I got to ask him about Digital Underground."

Artist: Humpty Hump
Photographer: 📷
Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008
Location: San Francisco, CA

18/02/2022

RESPECT. #25 Zoe Rain Archive

"This was an image I took during an editorial shoot with Chance for Status magazine. I got the email asking if I was in town to do it in two days, so I called up my stylist, Whitney Middleton, who immediately flew back early from New York Fashion Week in the dead of winter to come work on it with me. I was lucky to have worked with Chance previously, after living with him on his bus during the European leg of the Macklemore tour, so I wasn't too nervous about it. I rented out a studio and we shot for a couple hours. This was my first commissioned cover shoot, so I was stoked."

Artist: Chance the Rapper
Photographer: 📷
Date: Friday, May 15, 2015
Location: Chicago, IL

18/02/2022

RESPECT. #25 Seher Sikandar Archive

"Captured at Rock the Bells, this is one of my favorite shots of mine—ever. It's one of those special moments where the performer is just losing his or her mind and pulls you into their fury with them. The experience of being in the pit so close to that energy is inimitable, and the even rarer moments where you're able to freeze a highly kinetic moment of that energy is a concert photographer's greatest reward. I actually got to show it to Busta years later, while randomly in a studio session with him that my friend Aristotle invited me to. I was so nervous to show it to him."

Artist: Busta Rhymes
Photographer: Seher Sikandar
Date: Sunday, August 9, 2009
Location: Mountain View, CA

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