Legendary Hip hop photographer Ernie Paniccioli
My favorite photograph is my next one
After meeting Ernie here in Toronto at The Manifesto speaker series, I would have to say he is by far one of the most humble and talented people I have met. There are very few people who have the ability to speak to a full crowd, while making every individual feel as if they are being spoken to personally, and Ernie has definitely mastered that. Please check out his bio below, with additional links to his work!
As one of the most talented hip hop photographers who has graced our time, Ernie has used his lens to capture the culture and essence of hip hop, for over 3 decades. Having photographed mainstreams legends ranging from Slick Rick, Grandmaster Flash, Rock Steady Crew, Doug E. Fresh, Ice Cube, Queen Latifah, Public Enemy, Salt-N-Pepa and so many more. Some of the most famous caught by his lens include , John F. Kennedy, Jr. , Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Carter, Liza Minelli, Andy Warhol, Michael Jackson, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Michael Jordan, Britney Spears, Aaliyah, Snoop, Jay Z, Run DMZ, and The Dalai Lama. His work has decorated such illustrious publications as Rolling Stone, Vibe, The New York Times, Newsweek, Life, Spin and Ebony, to name a few. He has also shot for MTV and VH1 and has photos published in books, on album covers and posters throughout the globe. Paniccioli's work has also been displayed in various exhibits such as, The New York City Urban Experience Museum where 110 pieces from his Hip Hop Gallery were displayed making it the largest one man photography show in New York City history.
Ernie broke the barrier of stereotypes… As a young man growing up in Brooklyn in areas such as Park Slope, Bedford Stuyvesant and Flatbush in the 1970's, Paniccioli picked up a camera for the first time and instantly converted his interest and abilities from painter to photographer. Inspired by his feelings of being cast as a second class citizen and perhaps through a gift from above, he started out by taking photographs of the graffiti that embodied the borough. Unaware to Paniccioli, he had stumbled upon his unforeseen destiny.
No one has helped to launch the awareness and culture of Hip hop to the world better than the legendary Hip Hop Photographer himself, Ernie Paniccioli. When asked which of his photographs is his favorite, Ernie responds… "My favorite photograph is my next one".
