February 6th – Hip-Hop photographer Joe Conzo Jr. was born in The Bronx, New York, on this day in 1963.
Conzo, who studied photography from a young age and eventually at The School Of Visual Arts in New York City, grew up and went to school with some of the members of The Cold Crush Brothers and eventually became their official photographer and shot the pioneering rap group in the mid-1970`s and early 1980`s capturing the first historical moments of hip-hop.
Conzo would also go on to shoot The Treacherous 3, The Fearless Four and The Fantastic 5 in early historical venues such as The Roxy, Harlem World and Ecstasy Garage.
Conzo also shot historical photographs of Kurtis Blow, Afrika Bambaataa and hip-hop founder DJ Kool Herc.
Conzo’s father Joe Conzo Sr. was a close friend of Latin music legend Tito Puente, who Conzo also shot extensively as well.
Conzo’s photographs have appeared in films, books and in exhibits around the world, most notably at The Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture in New York City.
Conzo continues to photograph hip-hop artists today and most recently shot pictures of the recent Occupy: Wall Street protest.
