“The pairing of photographs will challenge our visitors to view hip-hop within the context of a long standing tradition of black creative achievement. “To showcase a sampling of the Eyejammie Collection through this exhibition exemplifies the Smithsonian’s commitment to continue telling the important story of hip-hop’s cultural and historical significance” said Rhea Combs, curator of photography and film, and director of CAAMA. CAAMA’s large interactive table displays an additional 170 images from the Eyejammie Hip-Hop Photography Collection. A few objects that further demonstrate hip-hop’s relevance are also on display, including an unmastered pre-release cassette tape of Nas debut album Illmatic, a rare studio demo cassette tape of Mobb Deep’s second album, The Infamous, and an original New York City MTA subway door featuring graffiti tags by some of the city’s most prolific artists. In addition to photographs, the exhibition includes three short film excerpts from pivotal movies that chronicle hip-hop culture Wild Style (1983), Graffiti Rock (1984) and Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives (2015).
The paring, or diptych, illuminates similarities between the two entertainers who often dealt with media speculation on their appearances. For example, artist Queen Latifah’s photograph is paired with an image of 1920s blues entertainer Gladys Bentley. Photos showing some of hip-hop’s iconic figures and moments are paired alongside other images from the museum’s photography collection to explore how different social movements, historic figures, art, culture and dance have influenced the musical genre. Inspired by the four elements of hip-hop - DJ’s, MCs, breakdancers and graffiti – “Represent” showcases photographs from the Eyejammie Hip Hop Photography Collection that illustrate the early days of hip-hop and its rapid expansion to a cultural phenomenon in the mid-to-late 1990s. “Represent” is on view through May 3, 2019. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts (CAAMA) gallery. “ Represent: Hip-Hop Photography,” the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture’s latest exhibition, is currently on display on the second floor in the Earl W.