Fotografiska & Mass Appeal Exhibition "Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious" Opening Night [Photos]

Internationally renowned photography museum, Fotografiska, award-winning entertainment company Mass Appeal, Chase Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, and Sony Music Entertainment’s (SME) Certified celebrated the opening of "Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious", a new photography exhibition documenting the 50-year evolution of one of the most influential cultural movements of our generation: hip-hop.

A live performance by Grammy Award-winning legend Nas kicked-off the evening, followed by DJ sets by J. PERIOD and Statik Selektah who kept the beat going all night long.

Mayor Eric Adams, Michael Che, A-Trak, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nia Long, Fabolous, Dave East, among others were in attendance, reveling in the music, art, and energy that shaped the global phenomenon of hip-hop.

On view January 26th - May 21st, "Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious" is a major new exhibition of over 200 photographs, spanning 1973 to present, traces the rise and proliferation of hip-hop through five decades of work from the trailblazing image-makers who helped codify hip-hop as the most influential pop culture movement of its generation.

Ranging from iconic staples of visual culture (presented with new context) to rare and intimate portraits of hip-hop’s biggest stars, the works on view traverse intersecting themes such as the role of women in hip-hop (Aaliyah, Eve, Erykah Badu, Faith Evans, Foxy Brown, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, TLC, Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa); hip-hop’s regional and stylistic diversification and rivalries; and the mainstream breakthrough that saw a grassroots movement become a global phenomenon.

"Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious" was created in partnership with Mass Appeal and is co-curated by Sacha Jenkins (Chief Creative Officer, Mass Appeal) and Sally Berman (Visuals Director, Hearst; formerly Director of Photography, Mass Appeal).

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The exhibition is produced in collaboration with Chase Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.

"Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious" adds to Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50 cross-platform initiative - a manifestation of the company’s commitment to celebrating the culture in the most authentic and globally impactful way possible.

In-house support comes from Amanda Hajjar (Director of Exhibitions, Fotografiska New York); Meredith Breech (Exhibitions Manager, Fotografiska New York); Johan Vikner (Director of Global Exhibitions, Fotografiska) and Pauline Benthede (VP Global Exhibitions, Fotografiska).

The event kicked-off the new photography exhibition at Fotografiska New York, as part of Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50 initiative, presented in collaboration with Chase Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, and supporting partner Sony Music Entertainment’s (SME) Certified.

"Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious" is open to the public today.

Tickets can be purchased HERE.