Film and television producers Joslyn Rose and Noris Rose launch the second episode of their HEAR THE ROSES podcast on Wednesday, January 18, on HeartheRoses.com.

The weekly series about passion, perseverance and the pursuit of dreams, features photographer Mel D. Cole who shares his journey from picking up a disposable camera to becoming one of the most influential photographers in the music scene.

Listen: Soundcloud.com/heartheroses

HEAR THE ROSES is also available on partner sites The Museum of Light, Fusicology, and RESPECT. Magazine.

The post Hear the Roses Podcast Features Photographer Mel D. Cole House Photographer for Legendary Roots Crew and Trey Songz  appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Mel D. Cole hits a milestone with his first album cover photograph for Jadakiss’s I Love You, a mixtape tribute to his fans.

How it happened in Cole’s own words below:

I received a email from the graphic designer who also hails from Syracuse, NY ( My home town). The email said that Jada loved my photo and wanted to use it for his mixtape. Next thing you know Blair and I are in convos with Def Jam negotiating the price for them to purchase the image.

Anyways…I am very fucking happy about this! I fucks with Jada..he is one of my favs and to have the honor of being apart of his latest CD is a dream come true!

Here’s the track listing
1. Intro
2. Hold You Down feat. Emanny
3. Lil Bruh
4. How I Feel
5. Rock Wit Me feat. Teyana Taylor
6. In The Streets
7. Lay Em Down feat. Styles P & Chynk Show
8. Toast (Intro)
9. Toast To That feat. Fred The Godson
10. Inkredible Remix feat. Trae Tha Truth & Rick Ross
11. Gone Too Long

It comes out May 24th.

Support hip hop!!!

via Urban-Gear

The post Jadakiss x Mel D. Cole: I Love You Mixtape Cover appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

I took this one at Summer Jam in 08 I think. Maybe my 2nd time shooting him. This was right before Carter III dropped. When he dropped to the stage I knew I had my moment to capture a image of him unlike those that the other photogs were taking. Everything worked out perfect. Fuck luck, fuck chance. I was there for a reason.

Joe Budden. NYC SOBs 12.28.09

I have a few iconic images of Mouse. But this one is one of my favs. As normal I was just hanging out. Joe started getting himself primed up for his show. Push ups…oh word?! Prefect. Joe then went on stage and smoked cigs. Classic Joe Budden shit!

Just Blaze, Saigon & Jay Elec. Santos NYC 2009.

I shot this at ReOpened at Santos Party House in NYC. This was right around the time Exhibit C dropped and Jay Elec was going out a lot with that hat on and what you can’t see…bowling shoes. He is the world’s worst dressed rapper, but one of the nicest on and off the mic!

Lauryn Hill. Rock The Bells Governors Island 8.28.10

I have very few images of her, all of them coming on the same day. I took this one right before she walked on stage. I knew not to ask her to look at me for some reason. I wanted to capture her as natural as possible. So I got under her to get a very unique view of her against the sky.

Kanye West. Brooklyn Bowl Brooklyn, NY 10.23.10

Fool’s Gold 3rd anniversary, Sway ruined the surprise. Twitter was super buzzing that Ye was going to show up and rock the mic. And yup….he did. He smashed Brooklyn Bowl the fuck DOWN! I got kicked off stage after the 1st song. So, I pushed my way into the crowd and took the pic. #perfecttiming

T-Pain & Jay Z. Giants Stadium 6.7.09

This was THE MOMENT at Summer Jam 2009. The D.O.A moment. Need I say more?

Mos, Talib, Jay Elec & Diddy. Highline ballroom NYC 1.17.10

Classic moment! Being able to get those dudes to pose for me on stage during all the commotion going on was just simply… dope! Thanks guys!

Tribe. Knitting Factory Bk, NY 1.20.10

Tribe is one of my ALL TIME favorite groups..PERIOD! Tip is one of my favorite rappers. Cons & Ali are two of my favorite people in hip hop. I just met Phife that night (really nice dude). I took this right before they hit the stage. One of the few times I have “stan’d” out after taking a pic. I could not believe I got one of all of them together. Their music has helped mold my character. Buggin out!

Diddy. Beverly Hills. July 2009

I was Diddy’s personal photog for his 2009 version of The White Party. *sings @drakkardnoi* What am I doin’? What am I doin’?
Oh, yeah, that’s right, I’m doin’ me
I’m doin me
I’m livin’ life right now, mayne

And this what I’ma do ’til it’s over
‘Til it’s over
But it’s far from over…..

Yup…that’s how I felt! Nigga, I was Diddy’s personal fucking photog! hahaha MEEEEEEEE! 

Questlove Highline Ballroom. NYC. 2007

I took this photo during the 1st year of documenting The Roots. Quest was getting ready his ‘fro right before a performance. I peeped my head in the bathroom and sung: Just let your soooouuuuul glow…
Just let it shine through….. He laughed. I snapped. We got a classic pic. We became friends. And since, I have shot The Roots at least 40-45 times. Love those dudes!

Kid Cudi NYC Prince St 9.22.08

Cudi called me up one day and asked if I could take photos of him for a magazine. Some fun shit. This was before his 1st LP came out. Cudi starts running down the street saying “come on Mel D. Cole…you gotta run with me” So I ran and got one of the more unique photos of Scott. The good old days.

Drake NYC SOBs 5.26.09

I showed up to Drake’s now famous 1st NYC show at SOBs not knowing a damn thing about him. Didn’t know a song, only seen him one time prior ( at Santos ). All I knew was, his show was going to go down in hip hop history and I had to be there for it. A million photogs were there, I wanted to capture a different look…Birds Eye. haha at my punchline flow.

via Highsnobiety

The post The Stories Behind Mel D. Cole’s Images In RESPECT. appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“That’s what motivates me. To have a stamp in history. knowing that my photos, in 20 years from now, are going to be looked at.”

-Mel D. Cole

Learn more about photographer Mel D. Cole on his website Village Slum

The post Mel D. Cole Photography appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

There have been scores of photo sets coming from this year’s SXSW conference—almost as many as there were bands playing. But no one’s seemed to capture the dank, claustrophobia and bacchanalia as well as Village Slum. You can almost smell the beer and sweat.

More pics here.

(vi@ Rap Radar)

The post Mel D. Cole’s SXSW Photos appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.