Photographer Ernie Paniccioli will release "Who
Shot Ya," on October 23rd. The book chronicles hip-hop via photos over
the past three decades and features 200 full color photos from various points
in hip-hop history.
Paniccioli, who has shot everyone in the game
from Afrika Bambaata to X-Clan told AllHipHop.com ""With this book,
I want to take people back to the time when energy, pride, culture, rawness
and street ruled hip-hop, not money, not huge multinational corporations."
The book, which contains text by journalist/activist/writer
Kevin Powell, is being published by Amistad/Harper and according to Paniccioli
is the first real visual look at hip-hop from an insiders point of view. "’Who
Shot Ya?’ will put a face on these hidden talents and nearly forgotten pioneers.
This book will tell the story of my life from being homeless at 13 in the streets
of Brooklyn and how I bore witness to the birth of hip-hop and how hip-hop saved
me from the streets."
Paniccioli said that the book will differ from
the type of photographs you may see in your favorite rap magazines. "I’d
shoot in a park, a bus stop, a train station, a project hallway for a couple
of hours and my work would be used as posters, album covers and magazine spreads…Now
a photo shoot includes dozens of people, assistants, stylists, makeup and hair
people, art directors, reps from the label, a caterer, reps from the magazine,
props, lights, huge, expensive studios, then after the shoot, dozens of hours
of Photoshop, retouching and approval from many, many people. The result is
a highly polished, artificial, over produced, glossy, safe set of images, far
removed from the streets, hip hop or rap."
In addition to the book Paniccioli will be open
what he calls the "largest one man hip-hop photo show in history. Titled
"101 Shots To Ya Dome," the exhibit is taking place in New York City
at the Urban Experience Gallery, across from the South Street Seaport at 85
south Street. Photos from my book "Who Shot Ya" will be displayed
along with never before seen hip-hop classic. I’ve been doing this for all of
my adult life, since the 70’s, it is about time I get props for my art, my love,
my photography, my documentation and my labor to globally advance the art of
hip-hop photography. For more info: 212-514-5700.