Some things change the world forever, spreading so rapidly that they become part of every culture on Earth. Examples? Of course: the automobile, the internet—smartphones included—or, quite fittingly, hip-hop. Once a subculture born in the U.S., hip-hop has made its mark on every continent. Now, the Galerie Bene Taschen in Cologne takes a closer look at the early days of this phenomenon.
The multimedia exhibition “Hip Hop – Living a Dream” showcases the early developments of hip-hop through the works of photographers Jamel Shabazz (*1960), Joseph Rodriguez (*1951), and Gregory Bojorquez (*1972). Starting in the early 1980s, these three American photographers documented the rise and spread of hip-hop culture—a lifestyle connected to music, graffiti, breakdance, and fashion that has grown into a global phenomenon. Cars, too, play a significant role here: as status symbols, modes of transport, retreats, or even sources of inspiration.
