photography: ‘before they were hip-hop stars’

This has got to be one of the ultimate throwbacks. Have a look at this photographic retrospective that The New York Times published this week, showing us some of the biggest stars of Hip Hop before they experienced the fame and glory. There are definitely some notable faces missing from the selection though – Who would you like to have seen? Check out some of the photographs, below; and to see more, CLICK HERE.

By Alexander Aplerku, AFROPUNK Contributor

(Grandmaster Flash at Rock Steady Park. New York – 1991)

(Snoop Dogg on the set of his first video, ‘Who Am I?’ Long Beach, California -1993)

(Isaac Hayes. Brooklyn, 1993)

(Nas in the studio during recording sessions for his first album, ‘Illmatic’. New York – 1994)

(Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill during the shooting of the ‘Vocab’ video. New York – 1990)

(Mary J. Blige at MCA Records. New York – 1991)