"Hip-Hop's Greatest Day" installatiom is coming soon to NYC thanks tiche Office of the Mayor and the Department of Cultural Affairs! Stsy tuned for how you cam book a free tour. Also we will be releasokg never before sold rare promts of brhind-the-scenes from the "Hip-Hop's Greatest Day Archive" — exclusively on @NTWRK.These signed and numbered limited editoon photos by myself, Ben
Osborne amd Gordon Parks' former business manager amd personal photographer, Johanna Fiore, have never been made available. Stay tuned for more imfo! #hiphopphotography #thegreatestdayinhiphophistory
#hiphopsgreatestday #agreatdayinhiphop
#harlem #nychistory #hiphophistory #xx|magazine #respectmag
A Milestone Remembrance: 25 Years of 'The Greatest Day in Hip-Hop' (Post 1 of 2)
Last night, as @CBS News 'Prime Time' illuminated the 25th anniversary of "The Greatest Day in Hip-Hop," I was transported back to that iconic day in 1998. Watching Sheena Lester and Fat Joe reflect on the historic moment, coupled with seeing my photos on screen from September 29, 1998, was deeply evocative.
My Rolleiflex camera was my secret companion that day, loaded with film, ready to capture the behind-the-scenes history. But above all, it was the presence of Gordon Parks that remains most vivid. Sitting alongside him, observing a master at work, absorbing his silent yet profound insights—it was an unparalleled education. He sat there, drawing from his pipe, a picture of quiet authority, waiting all day to capture that perfect moment , even as the sun threatened to set and usurp the glory.
Twenty-five years have passed, but the memories remain vivid. From the innocent play of the boy on the street, unaware of the history that would later unfold around him, to the passionate exchanges between DJ Kool Herc, Slick Rick, Rakim, and the assembled artists—it was a myriad of extraordinary moments. While Gordon Parks' final photo is an emblem of that day, as the former Executive Publisher of XXL Magazine/xxlmag.com, my own captures, deeply influenced by his presence, are personal keepsakes of my odyssey in Hip-Hop journalism.
I'm honored to have curated the most extensive BTS photo archive from that day, which includes not only my own moments but also invaluable snapshots from Gordon Parks' protégé, Johanna Fiore as well as Ben Osborne. (Continued in post 2 of 2).
#thegreatestdayinhiphop #GordonParks #XXL #25Years #CBSPrimeTime #Audible #hiphop50
R.I.P. @dmx RESPECT. to your legacy which will live on forever. @thatssopiotr 📷 for the incredible image featured in the pages of RESPECT. #dmx #hiphophistory #ruffryders #legend
E40 @ Greatest Day In Hip-Hop 1998 on 126th. Bay comes to Harlem. That's ☮️ and ❤️ right there. #verzuz #greatestdayinhiphophistory #xxl #hiphophistory #lens #harlem #bayarea #yayarea #gordonparks photo @graphichouse
Part 2 of 2 When I left @xxl as Executive Publisher in 2009 Lyor Cohen and Julie Greenwald gave me an incredible opportunity to start my mew marketing agency, Musinart within Atlantic Records. As a part of the deal, I represented Wanner Music Group to procure brand partnerships for their artists on Atlantic, Roadrunner and Fueled By Ramen. Within my first week I was re-introduced to Mr. @andreharrell ,who had his newly inked imprint on Atlantic, Harrell Records. We discussed various ways to monetize his ideas and he followed up with me, sending me a deck and a folder with some content for a preso we would collaborate on — to pitch a show he had conceptualized to broadcast on Interactive One. When I learned he passed this week, I search for that folder and found ti. In it was a long form video about Andre career. I quickly filmed one beautiful clip that captures the gent I met and got to know in a brief moment in my career. I’m not gonna front and make it like we were boys, but what I can say is: this was a distinguished gent that made a lasting impression on everyone came in contact with him. He oozed class, his voice projected and he made you want o dream .RIP dear sir. You made your mark on this planet forever. To your next journey Uptown in heaven. #uptown #andreharrell #badboy4life #motown #legend
Post 1 of 2 — I (@jrheingoldgallery ) shot this photo at the @xxl Greatest Day In Hip-Hop History — September 28, 1998 on 126th Street. During the organizational process leading up the event, several XXL staffers like myself received calls from various music industry publicists that were bitter their clients were not invited — and to give respect due, these were notable pioneers in Hip-Hop. Be as it may, The Great Day was strictly limited to rap musicians — no execs. You had to have rapped, produced or have been a legendary DJ. I received a call from a respected publicist in the industry calling and hassling me as to why her boss was;t invited. She said “Andre Harrell's invited? So why isn’t (my client) receiving an invite. At that moment @sheendawgydawg the EIC of XXL of the time, rolled by my cubicle, so I put the PR gal on hold … told Sheena what was going on. She says “JR tell that gal to do her homework. Andre Harell was a pioneer in rap; one of two frontmen in Jekyll and Hyde.” That call ended quickly. The rest is history. 11 years later I would have a 1:1 meeting with him at Atlantic Records. See Part 2 of @ of this story in next post. #greatestdayinhiphophistory #andreharrell #badboy4life #uptown #motown photo @jrheingoldgallery
So happy I have this photo of him set in a place he cherished ... on a stoop in Harlem.
Two icons of pop-culture @fab5freddy and @blondieofficial @ the @gordonparksfoundation gala @cipriani thank you @katie.hollander for the dope photo. My camera don’t do selfies ... so thanks for having my back. #blondie #wildstyle #fab5freddy #greatestdayinhiphophistory #greatdayinhiphop #greatdayinharlem #artkane #gordonparks #xxlmagazine
That glorious day on September 29, 1998 I met @blondieofficial Debra Harry ... Blondie man! However, when she first arrived I admit, with her glasses on and carrying her little pooch I didn’t recognize her. She walked up to the areas that was roped off by the stoops where I was acting as quasi security and I said “Ma'am, there is a photo shoot taking place I can t let you through,” and the gent with her @christein said “that’s Blondie man.” After I shit my pants in a nanosecond, I apologized and let her through. How gratifying it was to apologize to her again 20 years later at the @gordonparksfoundation gala @cipriani She blew everyone’s mind in 1998 and her history to rap culture is real and not some gimmick. @fab5freddy texted me today after I shared this image with him and said “I couldn’t recall the last time I’d hung with them both....so much for me started with the love from those 2, really special for me.” RESPECT. to you Freddy. Game recognizes game. She looked stunning this past Tuesday. Age is a state of mind. With age to still look that incredible magnifies her beauty. #respectmag #pharellwilliams #beautiful #blondie 📷 @graphichouse
