In commemoration of Black History Month, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, on Wednesday evening, Feb. 4, opened “Brooklyn’s Finest: Legends in Focus,” a photo installation honoring the borough’s pivotal role in Hip-Hop’s history and the photographers behind iconic moments.
Reynoso said the installation features some of the most important work by legendary photographer Jamel Shabazz, “whose photography has helped define and uplift Brooklyn’s cultural identity around the world.”
Anchoring the installation are scenes from “The Greatest Day in Hip-Hop History,” a 1998 photoshoot that brought together one of the largest gatherings of artists into a single image, Reynoso said.
He said Brooklynites will see many familiar faces at the installation, with portraits of some of the borough’s most revered Hip-Hop artists on view, including Barron Claiborne’s acclaimed portrait of The Notorious B.I.G, “The King of New York.”
Reynoso also said that on view are portraits of Jay-Z, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown, Busta Rhymes, Rakim, M.O.P., Big Daddy Kane, and Fab 5 Freddy.
Brooklyn’s Finest: Legends in Focus is curated by Jonathan Rheingold, co-founder of XXL and RESPECT. magazines and the president of iD8 Studios.
Reynoso said Brooklyn’s Finest: Legends in Focus will be on display at Brooklyn Borough Hall through the end of February.
He said the building will be open to visitors Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
“This Black History Month, we honor the Brooklynites who’ve played an important role in elevating Hip-Hop into a global cultural force—from lyricists and producers to journalists, street artists, and the listeners who fuel this movement,” Reynoso said. “Many of the photos on view depict artists in their own communities, offering a window into a creative moment in Brooklyn that was distinctly, proudly, Black.
“All Brooklynites should check out this special tribute to Hip-Hop, and I am so thankful to Jonathan Rheingold for his partnership,” he added.
“As a proud Brooklyn native, it’s an honor to curate and contribute to this installation at Brooklyn Borough Hall during Black History Month. Brooklyn has played an outsized role in shaping hip-hop culture, and photography has been essential to how that history has been documented, preserved, and shared with the world. This installation celebrates the artists, photographers, and cultural figures whose work continues to define Brooklyn’s influence—and creates a civic space where New Yorkers can pay tribute to the culture through these powerful visuals. I’m deeply grateful to the Brooklyn Borough President and the Borough Hall team for the opportunity to bring this project to life,” Rheingold said.
Reynoso said A Song for Life kicked off the opening night reception with a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
The borough president presented Fab 5 Freddy, a multidisciplinary artist and architect of the street art movement, and legendary street photographer Jamel Shabazz with proclamations honoring their artistic contributions.
Datwon Thomas, former editor-in-chief of VIBE, moderated talks with legendary editors and producers who’ve long shaped the conversation surrounding Hip-Hop, including Kierna Mayo, Sheena Lester, Larry “The Blackspot” Hester, and Tony Gervino.
Reynoso said Straw Hatz dazzled the crowd with a dance tribute to Hip-Hop, and DJ Specialist’s beats kept spirits high throughout the night.
“As a Brooklyn kid, tried and true, it’s an honor to shine light on the greatest place in the world and its connection to Hip-Hop and Black culture, our beloved Brooklyn,” Thomas said.
“It’s an honor to have a few of my choice selections displayed at Brooklyn Borough Hall. My photographic journey began in 1975, when I picked up my first camera and trained my lens on my peers in both the Red Hook and East Flatbush sections of Brooklyn, two unique communities where I came of age. Having the ability to freeze time and motion fascinated me. My goal at the time was to create a visual diary of my life and the people I met along the way. I never imagined at the time that the path that I took as a photographer would allow me to contribute to the preservation of a time that is long gone,” Shabazz said.
Reynoso said the installation is made possible thanks to exhibiting artists Shabazz, Barron Claiborne, Johanna Fiore, Mike Schreiber, Sarah A. Friedman, Matthew Salacuse, Lisa Leone, Justin Jay, Rheingold, and Mfon Essien.
