Beats, bucks and bling: the first stars of hip-hop – in pictures

A new exhibition of street shots from the 1980s captures everyone who was anyone in the early days of hip-hop, from Biz Markie to Run DMC and Rock Steady Crew

Main image: Biz Markie, 1988 Photograph: David Corio/Getty Images

  • Breakdancing in New York, 1984

    The show Beat Positive charts the explosive first decade of hip-hop culture, showcasing the work of photographers Janette Beckman and David Corio for the likes of NME, Melody Maker and the Face. Beat Positive is at Getty Images Gallery, London, until 4 August; prints available to purchase from the Getty Images Gallery, gettyimagesgallery.com
    Breakdancing in New York, 1984The show Beat Positive charts the explosive first decade of hip-hop culture, showcasing the work of photographers Janette Beckman and David Corio for the likes of NME, Melody Maker and the Face. Beat Positive is at Getty Images Gallery, London, until 4 August; prints available to purchase from the Getty Images Gallery, gettyimagesgallery.com

  • A breakdancer from Rock Steady Crew at the Venue in London, 1982

    David Corio was covering one of the first hip-hop events in London, featuring Rock Steady Crew, and shot Wayne ‘Frosty Freeze’ Frost mid-air. He recalls: ‘This show was probably the first time almost anyone in the audience had seen people spinning round on their backs and heads and almost floating in the air. I love the look of wonderment on the faces in the crowd’
    Break Dancer from the Rock Steady Crew at The Venue, London, November 1982, by David CorioDavid Corio was covering one of the first London hiphop events, featuring the American breaking and hip hop group Rock Steady Crew, and shot Wayne ‘Frosty Freeze’ Frost mid-air, saying, ‘This show was probably the first time almost anyone in the audience had seen people spinning round on their backs and heads and almost floating in the air. I love the look of wonderment on the faces in the crowd’

  • Run DMC and friends, in Queens, 1984

    In 1984, Janette Beckman got an assignment from the Face to photograph ‘a new group called Run DMC’. She says: ‘I called the number they gave me, Jam Master Jay’s mum’s house. We met at the Hollis subway station and Jay walked me to the street where they lived. The group were hanging out with friends, I started to take photos – this was maybe my second shot. Seems like a moment in time, they looked perfect in their Kangols, Cazals and Adidas’
    Run DMC and friends, in Queens, 1984 In 1984, Janette Beckman got an assignment from the Face to photograph ‘a new group called Run DMC’. She says: ‘I called the number they gave me, Jam Master Jay’s mum’s house. We met at the Hollis subway station and Jay walked me to the street where they lived. The group were hanging out with friends, I started to take photos – this was maybe my second shot. Seems like a moment in time, they looked perfect in their Kangols, Cazals and Adidas’

  • Run DMC at Hammersmith Odeon in London, 1986

    ‘Run DMC had a great live act,’ says Corio, ‘but they were hard to shoot as they were constantly bounding across the stage … This was the year their single My Adidas came out and got them an endorsement contract from the company for a million dollars’
    Run DMC at Hammersmith Odeon in London, 1986‘Run DMC had a great live act,’ says Corio, ‘but they were hard to shoot as they were constantly bounding across the stage. … This was the year their single My Adidas came out and got them an endorsement contract from the company after they asked them for a million dollars in their video [for the song]’

  • Public Enemy in Hyde Park, London, 1987

    ‘Public Enemy were the support act on a bill with LL Cool J and Eric B & Rakim,’ says Corio. ‘This was their first morning in a foggy London and I persuaded them to go to the park. Their main concern was that they hadn’t seen any McDonald’s on their way from the airport so were worried about what they were going to eat. Without me asking, they started posing and making Black Power signs, which somewhat bemused the old ladies walking their dogs that were passing by’
    Public Enemy in Hyde Park, London, 1987 ‘Public Enemy were the support act on a bill with LL Cool J and Eric B & Rakim,’ says Corio. ‘This was their first morning in a foggy London and I persuaded them to go to the park. Their main concern was that they hadn’t seen any McDonald’s on their way from the airport so were worried about what they were going to eat. Without me asking, they started posing and making Black Power signs which somewhat bemused the old ladies walking their dogs that were passing by’

  • Beastie Boys and Run DMC in Los Angeles, 1987

    When the two bands performed at LA’s Greek theatre, a Los Angeles Times critic spoke of Mike Tyson acting as their honorary bodyguard, ‘bopping to the beat as he stood grinning at the side of the stage and receiving a warm ovation when introduced to the packed house by the Beasties’
    Beastie Boys And Run DMC, Los Angeles, June 1987When the two bands performed on stage at LA’s Greek Theatre, the Los Angeles Times review spoke of Mike Tyson acting as their honorary bodyguard, ‘bopping to the beat as he stood grinning at the side of the stage and receiving a warm ovation when introduced to the packed house by the Beasties’

  • Biz Markie in London, 1988

    ‘He was a real ham,’ says Corio. ‘Jumping on to cars, constantly making faces – it made him easy to photograph. I asked to hold one of his rope chain necklaces: they were totally hollow and hardly weighed anything’
    Biz Markie in London, 1988 ‘He was a real ham’ says Corio. ‘Jumping on to cars, constantly making faces – it made him easy to photograph. I asked to hold one of his rope chain necklaces: they were totally hollow and hardly weighed anything’

  • Stetsasonic in Brooklyn, 1988

    ‘I spent the day with Stetsasonic photographing them for the album cover for In Full Gear,’ says Beckman. ‘I knew about the Stetson poster in Brooklyn. It was covered in graffiti, including a tag by the legendary Chino, who 25 years later would reinterpret this photo as part of my Mashup series, drawing over his own work’
    Stetsasonic, Brooklyn, New York, 1988 by Jeanette Beckman ‘I spent the day with Stetsasonic photographing them for the album cover In Full Gear,’ says Beckman. ‘I knew about the Steston poster in Brooklyn, thought it would be cool, it was covered in graffiti , including a tag by the legendary CHINO who 25 years later would reinterpret this photo as part of my MashUp series drawing over his own work’

  • Eric B & Rakim in New York, circa 1989

    American hip-hop duo Eric B & Rakim, who NPR’s Tom Terrell would later dub ‘the most influential DJ/MC combo in contemporary pop music’, crossing 14th Street
    Eric B & Rakim, New York City, circa 1989 American hip hop duo Eric B and Rakim, who NPR’s Tom Terrell eight years later would dub ‘the most influential DJ/MC combo in contemporary pop music period’, walking across 14th Street

  • Queen Latifah in New York, 1990

    ‘I was working on my first book about hip-hop with Bill Adler,’ says Beckman. ‘We had to have Queen Latifah in the book – she was so important to the culture and women in rap. So she came to my studio and posed for this portrait’
    Queen Latifah, New York, 1990 by Jeanette Beckman‘I was working on my first book about hip hop with Bill Adler,’ says Beckman. ‘We had to have Queen Latifah in the book - she was so important to the culture and women in rap so she came to my studio and posed for this portrait’
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