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The Notorious BIG casts a serious look at the camera while sitting in his car. Lauryn Hill perched on a velvet couch like an African princess, Grandmaster Flash operating the turntables at Brock’s party.
They are one of 20,000 images taken by a Jersey City resident known as “Brother Arnie” from the early 1970s by a New York graffiti artist.
After 50 years as a photographer, Ernie Paniccioli continues to share his work and hip-hop with the world. He will appear in his four-part documentary series for BBC and PBS (produced by his longtime friend Chuck D of his group Public Enemy). ‘Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World’ explores the history of hip hop and he airs January 31st in the United States.
In an interview with NorthJersey.com, Paniccioli said, “I still pay tribute to graffiti artists, but I’ve expanded that and taken pictures in Canada, France, Italy, the UK and the West Coast.” Told. Café Lafayette in Jersey City.
He also teased possible future projects.
“I’ve taken pictures all over the world, but I’ve never shown the work to anyone, so it might surprise any fan of mine,” Paniccioli said.
His daughter and business partner Melissa Paniccioli has confirmed that the project is a book of his graffiti photography and is looking for a publisher.
Longtime Paniccioli fans will be delighted to hear that “A Hip-Hop Life: Five Decades of Hip-Hop Music, Art and Culture,” a four-month exhibition at the Grammy Museum Experience at Newark’s Prudential Center, will open in October. Finished.
Paniccioli, 75, said he was thrilled that the Grammy Museum organized the exhibition. The public and music artists captured by his camera could see his images.
“Being in such a prestigious venue as the Grammy Museum was a huge turning point for me,” Paniccioli said.
He continues: He has never seen himself or the part of his life that he has forgotten. ”
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From streets to museums
Paniccioli’s honor in such a formal setting was a far cry from when he began photographing graffiti artists spray painting the walls of buildings in his native Brooklyn in 1973. Fascinated by photography from a young age, he wanted to capture the elaborate art he would see on the way home from his job at the telephone company.
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“The reason I picked up my camera was because everywhere I went was graffiti. I went to show it to my friends and it was gone in a week, it was gone in two days, it was gone in a day. It’s crazy,” Paniccioli recalls. “It was temporary. Click your finger and it’s gone. People risk being arrested, they risk being bitten by police dogs, they risk being beaten by other graffiti artists.” ”
Soon, he began photographing graffiti art in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and New Jersey, winning the trust of police interested in his work and artists who considered him “a little crazy.” Their association with them led to capturing the dawn of the New York hip-hop scene, with DJs spinning records on turntables at Brock’s parties and dancers creating a “breakdance” format.
His career would later see him face not just rap and R&B greats, but other legends of show business such as Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. He has also authored several books featuring his photography.
One of his fans is noted author Kevin Powell. On NorthJersey.com he praised Paniccioli.
“Ernie Paniccioli’s photography was for hip-hop icons and Annie Leibovitz was for rock’n’roll royalty. Understanding the aspects of American culture and history that have changed the entire planet.” and he has accomplished his life’s work, facing every challenge with authority, compassion, humor, and a great intelligence that connects the dots for all of us,” said Powell. Told.
Ricardo Kaulessar is a cultural reporter for the USA TODAY Network’s How We Live team for the Atlantic region. Subscribe now or activate your digital account for unlimited access to the news that matters most.
Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com
twitter: @ricardo cowl
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