From LL Cool J & Slick Rick To Salt-N-Pepa & RUN-DMC, Janette Beckman’s ‘Rebels’ Has Hip Hop Covered

Photographer, Janette Beckman shot LL Cool J’s first press photos before he reached fame. Not one of the artists she photographed in the early ’80s were the successful icons they are today including Run-DMC and Salt-N-Pepa.

Beckman is now based in New York City, where she’s reside since 1983.  She has a portfolio built up that would draw attention from any Hip Hop artist. Beckman’s work is featured in her new book. Rebels: From Punk To Dior, detailing 40 years of her illustrious career.

Janette Beckman shares her story in new book.

In an interview with Hip Hop DX , Beckman spoke about her time working at British newspaper Melody Maker and The Face magazine. It was so early in her career, she had no idea the people she captured in her photos would become some of the biggest names in the music industry.

“All the punk stuff that I was working for a weekly music paper called Melody Maker, then there was a magazine called The Face. In this case, I would suggest something like, ‘I want to go to this festival and photograph all the fans,’ and that’s what I would do… And honestly, these people were not famous when I photographed them. That picture of LL COOL J is his first press picture. He must have been like 17 years old or something. The picture of Run-DMC in Hollis is literally 1984, but they weren’t famous back in the day. So, that was the crazy thing. And actually the picture of Run-DMC was actually an assignment for The Face.” 

Beckman’s talent began to spread like wildfire.

Janette Beckman’s first monograph, Rebels: From Punk To Dior

She has become the go-to photographer for Hip Hop album covers. Every artist wanted to work with her. Rebels: From Punk To Dior arrived on October 5th revealing classic photographs of Grandmaster Flash, EPMD, Slick Rick, Public Enemy, as well as many other artists. There will be an event celebrating the release which will be held in New York City on Thursday November 18th.

Stephanie Kinberg

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