EBONY and Mass Attraction are celebrating 50 years of hip-hop with a particular commemorative print concern that options the tradition’s main disruptors. In a whirlwind three-city photoshoot, we tapped rap icons 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Lil’ Kim, Rick Ross and Swizz Beatz.
Producer, rapper, DJ and songwriter Kasseem ‘Swizz Beatz’ Dean’s boundary-pushing strategy to manufacturing helped form the sound of rap over a number of eras. Nonetheless, he’s not solely music royalty – he’s additionally a long-standing champion of visible artwork, credited with inspiring many within the hip-hop neighborhood to observe go well with. Whereas amassing his personal assortment, Dean turned a vital connector, and an vital advocate for artists of shade. He is without doubt one of the artwork world’s most vital energy brokers, advocating for artists in an trade that always exploits creativity for the sake of the underside line.
“This can be a dream come true. I at all times thought I used to be going to be on the duvet with my household, however to be on right here on some solo zone, I am not mad at it.”
-Swizz Beatz
On July 4th weekend, the EBONY workforce remained arduous at work, creating magic with Beatz in Littlerock, CA’s famed Desert Cyc location. The otherworldly, 7,000 sq. ft. out of doors studio with a moat and waterfall felt like the proper setting for the visionary’s first EBONY cowl. “This can be a dream come true,” he shares. “I at all times thought I used to be going to be on the duvet with my household, however to be on right here on some solo zone, I am not mad at it.”
The star, clad in crisp blue and white seems to be consistent with the shoot’s aquatic, futuristic-inspired set posed for photographer Keith Main. Stylist McKay Loving equipped a spread of seems to be from Amiri, Tom Ford, Casablanca and extra. Beatz added some further swag to his Timberland, Louis Vuitton, and Adidas footwear along with his sock line, Saudi Bronx.
In his EBONY cowl story, author Kevin Harry brings us into the creator’s fantastical universe. Watch what occurred behind the scenes of his cinematic cowl shoot above and click on right here for the complete digital cowl expertise.
The Hip-Hop 50 commemorative print concern is on sale from September 19, 2023 to December 19, 2023. Get your copy at magazines.com, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Walgreens, Goal, Publix, Safeway, Kroger, Books A Million, and extra, plus choose retailers in London and South Africa.
