The iconic “King of New York” photo of The Notorious B.I.G, photographed by Barron Claiborne. Photo: Courtesy of Contact High
Manarat Al-Saadiyat and the online platform Sole have joined forces to welcome a hip-hop history exhibition to Abu Dhabi. Some of the biggest names in the music industry will be featured in the visual collection, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, and legendary The Notorious B.I.G.
The exhibition, named “Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop,” will take visitors on a tour through the hip-hop ages, with four decades worth of photographs, albums, magazine covers, and other content that documents the history of the music genre. Based on the book of the same name, by journalist Vikki Tobak, the collection will be presented at Manarat Al-Saadiyat, in the UAE capital from December 15 to May 31, 2021.
The exhibition originated at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles is now being shown for the first time outside of the US, specifically designed for Abu Dhabi. More than 150 images shot by 60 photographers, including Janette Beckman, Barron Claiborne, and Jorge Peniche will be on display alongside other original and unedited content, capturing a side of the extraordinary hip-hop artists that has rarely been seen by the public.
Images of American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West will join a plethora of photographs of legendary hip-hop artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, Queen Latifah, and Outkast, that are on show at the exhibition.
The iconic “King of New York” photos of The Notorious B.I.G, photographed by Barron Claiborne. Photo: Courtesy of Contact High
The standout piece in the showcase is the “King of New York” photo of The Notorious B.I.G, also known as Biggy Smalls, who is considered to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. The image is perhaps the most recognizable photograph in the collection; and one that became synonymous with the rise of hip-hop culture in America in the 1990s. The photo, taken in 1997 by Barron Claiborne, sees Biggy Smalls portrayed as the King of New York City, wearing a gold crown on his head. It was one of the final images taken of the legendary hip-hop artist before he was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles in 1997.
“Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop” is running from December 15 to May 31, 2021, at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, from 10am to 8pm daily. Tickets for the exhibition are priced at AED30. For more information visit the Sole.digital website.
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