Capturing hip hop’s biggest stars, before they were famous
- Text by Jesse Bernard
- Photography by Chi Modu
Once a photographer for The Source magazine, Chi Modu is responsible for some of the most widely celebrated shots in hip hop.
The Nigerian-American photographer helped build the identities of world-famous rappers when they were once unknown – shooting the likes of Nas, Biggie Smalls, Method Man, Snoop Dogg and 2Pac at the start of their careers.
“My work was always targeted,” he explains. “I would often follow someone around while they were on their way up.”
To be able to capture these artists in intimate moments, when they weren’t sure if anyone would even see the images, was special. 2Pac’s invitation to Chi to spend a few days with him in his Georgia home was an example of how the photographer’s warm personality allowed the world to see a different side to these artists – who, at the time, were routinely demonised by the conservative media.
“Hip-hop had been around for some years, but when The Source came in the late ’80s, it was one of the first publications to shine a light on it,” Chi remembers. “There were plenty of others that had a teen vibe to them, but this was one of the first to take a professional and editorial approach to the work.”
Chi has never believed in the idea of a “lucky shot”, as he feels that in order for it to be truly great, photographers need to know how they landed it. “People think it’s right place, right time,” he says, “but often it’s right place, right time, and right person, because it requires someone with a particular skill set who also has a personality young rulebreakers are comfortable being around.”
“It’s wild when the bad kids become the mainstream and are no longer outliers. I do miss the outlier thing a bit sometimes because it can be more authentic at times.”
The photographer isn’t someone who is overly nostalgic for rap’s heyday, nor does he dwell on those memorable moments he created with so many of the genre’s luminaries and trailblazers. He understands that the culture of hip hop is about looking forward. “I think what my work does for hip-hop today is that it gives people a reference,” he says. “When you look at the pictures, they look current because the energy in hip hop is always current. I’m not one of those OGs that sings praises of his time, it gets tired after a while. You don’t have to scream the praises of your era if the work holds up.”
The excitement that surrounded rap in the early ’90s – which saw it embraced and revered by the global masses – remains present in the images today. By consistently capturing hip-hop artists in intimate moments, Modu was more than just the right man for the job, too: he understood that there were human stories behind the rap stardom, making him completely ahead of his time.
Follow Jesse Bernard on Twitter.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
On the frontlines of Britain’s ’80s protest movements
Protest and Equality — Against a backdrop of Thatcherism, hospital closures and global conflict, photographer Sarah Saunders was a documentarian of the long decade’s effects on society, as well as the communities actively resisting it.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Inside the UK’s amateur robot wars scene
Bot Builders — Decades after the sport’s ’90s television heyday, a community of enthusiasts are continuing the craft of building extravagant machines for duelling. Juliet Nottingham attends a Bristol competition to witness the damage, destruction and intricately engineered fighters.
Written by: Juliet Nottingham
How one of the world’s best big wave photographers & filmmakers gets the perfect shot
Staring down the barrel — Sachi Cunningham has built an immersive body of work documenting huge barrels by getting closer to the action than most. Josh Jones speaks to her about her process, finding order within chaos, and the importance of feeling awe.
Written by: Josh Jones
In photos: The gritty golden age of the UK’s skateboarding scene
Elsewhere — A new book from Science Vs. Life founder Neil Macdonald explores the characters, photographs and ephemera that defined the sport in the ’80s and ’90s, just before the internet and commercialisation changed it forever.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien: “Technology’s evolution on the human psyche is a massive problem”
Blue Morpho — With the release of his second solo album, the songwriter and guitarist explores analogue rawness, spirituality and pulling himself out of a dark place. D’Arcy Doran caught up with him at SXSW to find out more.
Written by: D’Arcy Doran
New film spotlights London’s Bubble Club, the party by people with learning disabilities
Radically inclusive clubbing — Produced by Muddled Marauders and currently fundraising for completion, the feature documentary focuses on the inclusive night, which has been in operation since 2005.
Written by: Roxana Diba
