The Rebel Cultures Playlist

Origins of punk and hip hop — Photographer Janette Beckman captured the birth of some of the most influential subcultures of the Twentieth Century.

Growing up in London during the birth of punk, photographer Janette Beckman shot some of the most influential characters of the era: from Sex Pistols and The Clash to Blondie and Boy George. Not that she had any idea how big they would become back then, mind you.

When hip hop came along in the early 1980s she rode the renaissance to New York and seamlessly became its visual guardian, shooting everyone from Run DMC and Public Enemy to LL Cool J and Eric B. & Rakim.

In this playlist we collect videos from the punk and hip hop artists Janette shot in their early years. Grab a copy of Huck 48 – The Origins Issue to read more about her incredible story.

Blondie

DJ Kool Herc may be the father of hip hop, but Debbie Harry rapping on ‘The Rapture’ put the fledgling scene on mainstream America’s radar for the first time.

Shane Macgowan, The Pogues

Shane Macgowan, frontman of Celtic punk band The Pogues appears in a typically-inebriated state on Dutch TV.

Run-DMC

Run-DMC’s collaboration with Aerosmith on ‘Walk This Way’ is one of the best music videos of all time. Period.

The Sex Pistols

The UK’s favourite safety-pinned philosophers cause drunken havoc on stale ’70s British TV.

Ultramagnetic MCs

The Bronx’s Ultramagnetic MCs are the cover stars for Huck’s Origins Issue, in a classic shot from Janette Beckman.

Joe Strummer, The Clash

Julien Temple’s 2007 documentary The Future Is Unwritten explores the Clash’s enigmatic frontman.

UTFO

Brooklyn’s UTFO (short for Untouchable Force Organization) were all over the ’80s rap game.

Dr Dre

MTV Raw uncovers a selection of early Dr Dre interviews from his NWA days.

 Read the full article on Janette Beckman’s Rebel Cultures in Huck 48 – The Origins Issue.


You might like

Grey industrial structure with arches, dog running in foreground.
Culture

Capturing life in the shadows of Canada’s largest oil refinery

The Cloud Factory — Growing up on the fringes of Saint John, New Brunswick, the Irving Oil Refinery was ever present for photographer Chris Donovan. His new photobook explores its lingering impacts on the city’s landscape and people.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Masked protester with firearm in hand, standing on a street with other protesters in the background.
Culture

Susan Meiselas captured Nicaragua’s revolution in stark, powerful detail

Nicaragua: June 1978-1979 — With a new edition of her seminal photobook, the Magnum photographer reflects on her role in shaping the resistance’s visual language, and the state of US-Nicaraguan relations nearly five decades later.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Black and white image showing a group of shirtless men socialising, some laughing.
Culture

A visual trip through 100 years of New York’s LGBTQ+ spaces

Queer Happened Here — A new book from historian and writer Marc Zinaman maps scores of Manhattan’s queer venues and informal meeting places, documenting the city’s long LGBTQ+ history in the process.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Four persons - three women and one man - posing outdoors. The women are wearing elaborate clothing and jewellery.
Culture

Nostalgic photos of everyday life in ’70s San Francisco

A Fearless Eye — Having moved to the Bay Area in 1969, Barbara Ramos spent days wandering its streets, photographing its landscape and characters. In the process she captured a city in flux, as its burgeoning countercultural youth movement crossed with longtime residents.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Woman wearing headband and bandage covering her mouth, seated on a swing chair on a balcony overlooking the ocean.
Culture

In photos: 14 years of artist Love Bailey’s life and transition

Dancing on the Fault Line — Photographer Nick Haymes’s new book explores a decade-plus friendship with the Californian artist and activist, drawing intimate scenes from thousands of pictures.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Vibrant book covers against bleak, rocky hills and buildings; 'Babylon' and 'Albion' text in bold lettering.
Culture

Dalia Al-Dujaili: “When you’re placeless, nature can fill the void”

Babylon, Albion — As her new book publishes, the British-Iraqi author speaks about connecting with the land as a second-generation migrant, plants as symbols of resistance, and being proud of her parents.

Written by: Zahra Onsori

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.