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A Great Day in Hip Hop
XXL #7 centerfold of the photograph
ArtistGordon Parks
Completion dateSeptember 29, 1998
TypeStreet photography
LocationHarlem, New York
OwnerThe Gordon Parks Organization

A Great Day in Hip Hop is a black-and-white photograph of 177 hip hop artists and producers in Harlem, New York, taken by photographer Gordon Parks for XXL magazine #7 on September 29, 1998, as a homage to Art Kane's A Great Day in Harlem, photographed in 1958.[1]

It was also followed by XXL's "The Greatest Day in Hip Hop" in the issue, with the photoshoot having occurred the same day as what was considered a significant release day in hip hop, with Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, OutKast, Brand Nubian, and Black Star, all releasing albums.[2]

Background[edit]

In 1995, Life Magazine commissioned a retake of A Great Day in Harlem gathered ten of the surviving musicians from the photograph, with Parks photographing where they stood. American writer Michael A. Gonzales wrote about the photograph, “As a Harlem boy born a few blocks away from the brownstone where Kane shot the ensemble of jazz musicians, I knew firsthand how much the community had changed in the 40 years since the original picture was taken. That neighborhood had seen it all—from riots and blackouts to heroin and the crack years.”[1]

Three years after the photograph, 177 participants were assembled, including rappers, producers, and influencers, on the stoop of brownstone number 17. The photograph would represent the following generation, giving a new touch to the 1958 photograph.[1][3] Various rappers including the Beastie Boys, Big Pun, Public Enemy, KRS-One, and most members of the Wu-Tang Clan were invited to attend, but did not attend or cancelled the invitation.[4]

Musicians in the photograph[edit]

All musicians are linked from XXL #7 page 110[5]

Aftermath[edit]

A Great Day in Hip Hop received national attention through the XXL magazine, paving the way for many shoots in various cities including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Houston, the following years.[3]

The following year, West Coast rappers gathered together for a photo shoot known as A Day in the West in Los Angeles, with rappers including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Warren G, DJ Quik, King T, and more present.[6][3]

In 2005, MTV would organize an event for Atlanta's most notable rappers including Ludacris, T.I., Young Jeezy, Killer Mike, and DJ Drama.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "A GREAT DAY IN HIP HOP". gordonparksfoundation.org. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  2. ^ Howard, Jacinta (2022-09-29). "RTB REWIND: THE GREATEST RELEASE DAY IN HIP-HOP HISTORY?". rockthebells.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  3. ^ a b c d Lindsey, Craig D. (2018-09-28). "MY LONG-LOST, UNPUBLISHED PIECE ON 'GREAT DAY IN HIP-HOP' SHOOTS". medium.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  4. ^ Reiss, Randy (1998-09-08). "Top Rappers To Say 'Cheese' For 'Great Day In Harlem' Update". mtv.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  5. ^ "The Greatest Day in Hip-Hop History (Harlem NY, 9/29/98)". hiphopnostalgia.com. 2018-09-29. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  6. ^ "Snoop Dogg, Mack 10, Xzibit To Come Together For "A Day In The West"". mtv.com. 1999-07-13. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Great_Day_in_Hip_Hop

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