Michael Benabib's hip hop photography exhibit is now live in NYC until April 27th at 98 Orchard St. The exhibit showcases never-before-seen portraits of legendary hip hop artists such as Tupac, Biggie, Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige and more. Through Michael Benabib's camera lens, you'll be able to see these icons in new and interesting ways.
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Happy Birthday to The Godfather of Punk!
Using this time to dig through my archives of film, I discovered this never-before-seen photo of Iggy Pop from our Blender Magazine photoshoot at Industria Studio in NYC, 1996. Happy birthday to The Godfather of Punk!
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Congratulations to Iggy Pop, Public Enemy, and Isaac Hayes on their 2020 Lifetime Achievement Awards
Congratulations to Iggy Pop, Public Enemy, and Isaac Hayes on their 2020 Lifetime Achievement Awards from the @recordingacademy #GRAMMYs I had the good fortune of working with these talented performers in the early days when we were all just starting out.
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David Byrne for Blender Magazine circa 1999
David Byrne of Talking Heads for Blender Magazine circa 1999 in my studio.
Photography by Michael Benabib
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Being interviewed about my photoshoot with Miles Davis
"Michael Benabib: I was hired by Def Jam Records. I love Miles. I grew up listening to jazz and my father is a real big jazz fan. So when I got the job, the first thing I did was call him and he said, 'Miles has a reputation of being difficult; I don’t want you to be disappointed.' Then I went to the shoot."
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1994 photoshoot for Lugz with Snoop Dogg
1994 photoshoot for Lugz with Snoop Dogg at his home in Los Angeles with his Classic Cars and smokin bud - at this apex for Lugz in #hiphophistory I’d been shooting their ads for years and the last photo shows some of the other #hiphoplegends in our work together including (from bottom left to right) AZ, Keith Murray & Redman and Erick Sermon of #EPMD (Erick and Parrish Making Dollars).
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I photographed Public Enemy in 1987 when they first started out. This is the only photo you’ll see with Chuck D wearing the clock before it became Flavor Flav’s trademark. Happy belated birthday to Chuck D
Public Enemy in 1987
I photographed Public Enemy in 1987 when they first started out. This is the only photo you’ll see with Chuck D wearing the clock before it became Flavor Flav’s trademark.
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Usher “My Way” Photoshoot
I photographed Usher for the “My Way” album on 42nd St between 7th and 8th avenue in 1997 (at a time when you could have a photoshoot on a the rainy day in Times Square without anyone else around.) The 2nd photo is when Arista Records had Usher come to my studio for a publicity shoot. I photographed Usher a few times during his breakthrough years, and he changed so much between the ages of 13 and 14 from a growth spirt.
Kimora Lee Simmons just relaunched Baby Phat with Forever 21
Kimora Lee Simmons just relaunched Baby Phat with Forever21
Photo by Michael Benabib
babyphatxforever21
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Opening Weekend for Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop at Annenberg Space for Photography
Kickin’ it with old friends and honored to see my work featured at the opening weekend for Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop at Annenberg Space for Photography by Vikki Tobak #contacthighproject
Read MoreBBC Radio 5 Live Interview with Rhod Sharp and Mark Riley
Recent BBC Radio interview with Rhod Sharp and Mark Riley sharing my stories photographing hip hop icons🎙Listen to the full 23 min interview (starts at 1:36:26) to hear how I got my big break and behind-the-scene industry insights working in the celebrity biz.
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MTV Unplugged: Uptown Records Edition 1993
I shot this photo of on the set of MTV Unplugged: Uptown Records Edition at the Universal Studios Hollywood soundstage in 1993 Uptown Records is a very tight knit group of artists that all worked closely together and truly represents a family of which I’m proud to be part of. Thank you BlackPast.org for sharing my work in your recent article
Read More"Michael Benabib: The Man Behind Hip Hop's Most Iconic Photographs"
Scratch just released this excellent article about my work with some never-before-seen photos of hip hop’s most iconic figures.
"Michael Benabib is a hip-hop insider, with unique access to the biggest names in the music. The portrait photographer who shot almost every artist from the 80/90s hip-hop scene…”
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Wishing Wendy Williams a Healthy Recovery
Wishing Wendy Williams a healthy recovery for her brave decision to live in a sober house which she revealed yesterday on The Wendy Williams Show. I shot these photos of Wendy Williams in 2001. Love it or hate it, her over the top personality makes her one of a kind, and I love it. Sending good, healthy vibes your way. #wendy10 #TheWendyWilliamsShow
Photography by Michael Benabib
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Happy 40th to Aaliyah in heaven
Happy 40th to Aaliyah in heaven. During our photoshoots, Aaliyah Haughton was always so humble and climbed my 5-story walk-up with no complaints and no entourage. I know a lot of people ask so much of her and for her to be so gracious with me meant a lot.
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Kool Moe Dee
Kool Moe Dee always refused to take off his sunglasses during our photoshoots 😎
Photo Credit: Michael Benabib
Kool Moe Dee recently lit the Harlem Apollo Theater stage for Apollo Presents The Kings and Queens of New Jack Swing with his hip hop classic “Wild Wild West”
Lil Kim & Puff Daddy - Then and Now - Today Show 2016
While on a shoot for Rockefeller & Co in 10 Rockefeller Plaza, I noticed the office was situated right above where the Today show was filming. I watched as Lil Kim & Puff Daddy performed, and made the above image.
I photographed Lil Kim, as well as Puff Daddy, years ago in the height of the 90s hip hop era.
BET "Behind The Label" series features Benabib Archive Photos
BET "Behind The Label" series features Benabib archive photos of all the major players of UPTOWN Records. Uptown Records was an American record label, founded by Andre Harrell in 1986.[1] It went on to become one of the most popular hip-hop and R&B labels of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Featured on the roster were Guy, Heavy D & The Boyz, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Al B. Sure!, and Soul for Real amongst others.
Phife Dawg, A.K.A. Malik Taylor, passes away at 45 of Diabetes
Photo by MICHAEL BENABIB C. 1989 Phife Dawg, aka Malik Taylor initially formed A Tribe Called Quest, then simply named Quest, with his high school classmate Q-Tip in 1985; the group was later expanded with the addition of Jarobi White and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A Tribe Called Quest were closely associated with fellow hip-hop acts De La Soul and Jungle Brothers, with the groups being collectively known as the Native Tongues.[3] A Tribe Called Quest were initially offered a demo deal by Geffen Records in 1989, but signed to Jive Records to release their 1990 début People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm.[3]
Phife Dawg passed away March 22, 2016, aged 45, of diabetes. Rest in peace.