Letter from RESPECT. Founder

I’m honored to curate along with longtime collaborator, Datwon Thomas, “Brooklyn’s Finest: Legends in Focus” — a civic installation opening February 4 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, presented as part of Black History Month.

This installation brings together a selection of photographs that honor Brooklyn’s sizable impact on hip-hop culture and the photographers who helped document it. Hip-hop is one of New York City’s great cultural gifts to the world, and photography has been essential to how that story has been seen, remembered, and carried forward across generations.

With a limited number of images, it’s impossible to represent every Brooklyn rap artist, era, or neighborhood that helped build the legacy. Instead, this installation focuses on a tightly curated group of works reflecting the spirit, pride, and influence of Brookly —celebrating Hip-Hop icons whose lives and cultural contributions are deeply rooted in the borough.

At the heart of this display is the work of Jamel Shabazz, the legendary Brooklyn-born street photographer whose images have come to define generations of NY life, culture, and self-expression. His photographs are inseparable from Brooklyn’s visual history and from the lived experience of street culture itself.

The installation also features contributions from Matthew Salacuse, Mike Schreiber, Sarah A. Freeman, Justin Jay, and Lisa Leone—documentarians whose work captured BK icons in their respective emerging moments. The display is anchored by one of the most iconic portraits in music history: Baron Claiborne’s timeless image of The Notorious B.I.G., a photograph forever linked to BK’s imprint on the world.

At the center of the installation is a sequence honoring The Greatest Day in Hip-Hop History—a historic moment I helped organize in 1998 that brought together one of the most extraordinary assemblies of artists ever captured in a single image. While Harlem is the Mecca, Brooklyn showed up—and this moment belongs here because the culture has always moved between boroughs. The image featured here was captured by Gordon Parks’ trusted protégé, Johanna Fiore, whose lens preserves that day from a rare and personal vantage point. There also two images by yours truly capturing Busta Rhymes and Rakim on that day in 1998. Being in the right place at the right time is often what makes photography magical.

Additionally, a proclamation will be given to Hip-Hop pioneer, Fab5Freddy.

As a proud Brooklyn native, and as a co-founder of XXL Magazine/xxlmag.com and founder of RESPECT., the photo journal of hip-hop culture, it’s an honor for my firm iD8 Entertainment to underwrite and curate this installation in a civic space where New Yorkers can experience these images together.

Thank you to the Brooklyn Borough Hall President’s Office (Donavan Swanson and Roslyn Campbell) and the Borough Hall team for making space for public cultural storytelling.

— Jonathan A. Rheingold
Curator / Producer / RESPECT. Founder

The post BROOKLYN’S FINEST: LEGENDS IN FOCUS! Feb. 4th – Brooklyn, NY appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“We did not want to make this a record label because most record labels have a similar sound. Once a record label flops and the sound is over – the artists flop. So, we went and found everything from traditional hip-hop to pop music. Basically any playlist in the world we want to have music on each and everyone. These artists with We Build Hits are actually talented and I am in direct connection with them everyday, so I see the talent daily. We believe in each and every artist here.”

There’s no arguing Billy Danze‘s stripes, patented sound and most importantly [RESPECT.] when mentioning hip-hop. 2000’s “Ante Up” still gets senior citizens and toddlers riled up. What do you get when the veteran handpicks a wide collection of artists to represent a movement? You guessed right – fire. ‘We Got It All Vol. 1’ is one for your digital collection – trust. “I have not heard any record from these cats that I didn’t like” Billy confidently states over Dj Spot‘s murderous, and almost addictive, intro cut. To avoid a confusingly fluffy review that we see published left and right, lets allow the music draw your own review:

‘We Got It All Vol. 1’ is as blunt and truthful as its title; they have it all. From Reign Major‘s roll-up-to, laid back “Best Thing Yet” to Tona‘s brutally honest “Lost”, this mix covers a lot of ground. How can you be mad at that? It’s more or less equivalent to throwing your iPod on shuffle, with trust that all 16 records will satisfy. Dj Spot did what he does best on the wheels, and blessed us with smooth transitions and quality mixing. We Got It All sort of echoes and gives an early Dj Clue or J-Love vibe when first listening front to back. We all love Clue and J-Love, come on. Billy Danze stated:

“Spot is one of those dudes that’s serious about hip-hop and knows how important it is to help spread it out. I’ve heard about him through the years and wanted to work with him a some level. So with both of our passions for the music of yesterday and today I felt it was only right to hook up and together start setting up the artists of tomorrow.”

Predominantly based in the states, We Build Hits has had success with their previous collaborative releases and moves. But what makes the “record company” special is the access of material per artist. They all do their own thing under this loose, respectful umbrella that Billy has crafted carefully. The freedom is profound, and it’s refreshing to see this small army do what they love while remaining drama/scheme free. After speaking with Billy on a few occasions about the company we can start to wrap our heads around the vision and the expectations moving forward. On a closing note, we hope all you real hip-hop junkies and good music fans enjoy the release. Be sure to download the project and support the team. Peace and love.

Reign Major | Tona | Money Mark | Demorne Warren (D-Dub) | Eyeznpowa | Ronve | Caktuz | Lucci Loner

(All interview segments with RESPECT. Magazine’s Dread Solo – special thanks and many blessings to Devron from We Build Hits and Russia’s own Dj Spot)

The post M.O.P.’s Billy Danze Is Back Alongside His Relentless Team Of Emcees With ‘We Got It All Vol. 1’ (Free Stream/Download) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.