For the past 40 years, street photographer Jamel Shabazz has been capturing the evolution of hip-hop style in New York City. To honor his work, the Hardhitta Gallery in Cologne is featuring an exhibit of Shabazz's iconic images titled "Jamel Shabazz: Reflections From the 80s." Shabazz is known as one of the original hip-hop street photographers, starting his career in the '70s and documenting the emerging days of hip-hop in the city. Vibrant throwback photos of kids in Brooklyn sporting adidas shell toes and oversized Cazal glasses show just how the trends we still see today first got started.
“All too often my work is misinterpreted, they look at it and they just see urban culture and hip hop in the African American community," said Shabazz in the press release. "But it’s more broad than that, it´s a universal body of work about compassion, empathy, bringing out the beauty within people and the love that bridges the gaps between us.”
Adidas featured Shabazz's work earlier this year during it's photo exhibit celebrating the relaunch of the Superstar. The brand and Shabazz also previously collaborated on the "And The Street Goes On" campaign when they brought back the top ten retro adidas sneakers from the 70s.
The exhibit will run through March 29th.
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