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About the Book:
In 1982, Janette Beckman moved from her native London to New York City to photograph the Hip Hop scene as it made its way from the Bronx to the global stage. For the next decade, her photographs graced record covers and magazines, creating an indelible archive of iconic imagery that has become synonymous with Hip Hop’s golden era. In conjunction with “Hip Hop Revolution: Photographs by Janette Beckman, Joe Conzo, and Martha Cooper” at the Museum of the City of New York from April 1–September 13, 2015, Beckman has released Rebel Culture: Photographs 1982-1992, a limited edition of 250 signed and numbered artist books, art directed by Cey Adams.
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About the Author:
Londoner Janette Beckman began her career at the dawn of punk rock working for The Face and Melody Maker. She shot bands from The Clash to The Specials as well as 3 Police album covers Her powerful portraits celebrating this music and street style are collected in Made in the UK: The Music of Attitude, 1977-1982 (powerHouse Books, 2005). Moving to New York in 1982, she was drawn to the underground Hip Hop scene. Her photographs of pioneers Afrika Bambaata, Run DMC, Salt’ n ‘Pepa, and Grandmaster Flash and 1980s style are collected in The Breaks, Stylin and Profilin 1982-1990 (powerHouse Books, 2007) Since moving to New York she has shot everyone from entertainers to politicians. Clients include: Esquire, Rolling Stone, People, Interview, London Sunday Times Magazine, Observer Magazine, Doc Marten, Converse, Schott, Casio, Warner Brothers Music, and Universal Music, among others. Beckman’s photographs have recently been exhibited at: The Museum of the City of New York, Paul Smith London, Morrison Hotel Gallery NYC, Colette Paris, IsetanTokyo, Kong Gallery Shanghai, Rockarchive, Le Salon Paris, Tower Records Tokyo, Blender Gallery Sidney, and Proud Gallery London.
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Miss Rosen’s Contribution:
Rebel Culture: Photographs 1982-1992 includes an essay by Miss Rosen titled, “Ladies First.”
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From the Essay:
Several years ago, Janette Beckman and I headed out to New Jersey, as guests on ‘Coffee Break with Heroes & Villains’ hosted by Noah Uman on WFMU radio. We were invited out together to discuss the art of Hip Hop photography. Prior to the show, we were each asked to put together a playlist of ten different songs we wanted to hear interspersed throughout the hour-long interview. At some point, Noah picked one of the choices off my list, the twelve-inch remix of ‘Words I Manifest’ by Gang Starr, and held it up.
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“Is that my photo?” JB asked.
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Indeed it was, for Janette Beckman photographs are always everywhere. During Hip Hop’s golden era, JB was coming through with her camera, documenting the Who’s Who. She began photographing Hip Hop back in ’82, when she caught a show in London featuring Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmixer DST, Futura 2000, Dondi White, B-Boys, and Double Dutch girls. She was then working for Melody Maker, photographing the punk, ska, mod, and rockabilly scenes. The live, fly vibe of Hip Hop was calling JB’s name.
—Miss Rosen
Brooklyn, 2015
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Photographs ©Janette Beckman