"In Ya Grill: The Faces of Hip-Hop" is a retrospective look at the work of veteran hip hop photographer Michael Benabib. With some interspersed words from Bill Adler, the book features photos taken as far back as 1986. He's taken photos of a lot of people - but, it's his work with Bad Boy that led to me getting a copy of his book.
The outside of the book just begs you to pick it up. It's an eye catching cover featuring cropped/smaller versions of photos included within - photos of Russell Simmons, MC Lyte, Diddy, Flavor Flav, Lil' Kim, Biggie, LL Cool J (with DJ Bobcat, E-Love and Cut Creator) and Kid Capri. Interestingly, the actual cover is different from the cover above - the Lil' Kim photo featured is different. The back cover features a large photo of DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.
The book is divided into the following sections: Introduction, Background, Def Jam, Uptown, Bad Boy, Jive, Cold Chillin', Tommy Boy, Ruffhouse, Ruthless/Death Row, Ladies, DJ's & Producers, R&B and Skoolin'. Bad Boy related photos are featured throughout the book. As this is Bad Boy Blog, that is what I am going to focus on. The background section for Mr. Benabib features this:
In retrospect, he thinks of himself as having been the "unofficial staff photographer" for the Def Jam, Uptown, and Bad Boy labels.
The first Bad Boy photo is in the Uptown section on page 36. There is a small photo of Andre Harrell, Mary J. Blige and Diddy in 1993 on the set of the video for "Love No Limit". On the opposite page is an Uptown Records group shot from 1992 featuring the label's artists at the time, along with Puff in the upper right corner of the photo. Combs produced acts Father MC, Christopher Williams, Blige, Jodeci and Heavy D & the Boyz are also pictured.
Directly following the Uptown section is the Bad Boy section. Here are the photos featured in it:
1. 1999 photo of Diddy for an advertisement to introduce the Sean John line.
2. 1997 photo from the
"No Way Out" cover shoot. It's not the actual cover photo, but is very similar.
3. 1999 photo of Diddy in a Yankees road jersey.
4. 2001 photo of Black Rob, G. Dep, Diddy, Loon and Mark Curry. The Saga Continues era photo.
5. 2000 photo of Diddy in New York sitting on a Mercedes.
6. 2000 photo of Mase modeling Sean John.
7. 1999 photo of Diddy with Mase for a Sean John ad.
8. 1993 photo of Craig Mack "cutting "Flava In Ya Ear"" at Daddy's House in New York.
9. 1999 photo of Shyne on 5th Avenue in New York.
10. 1999 photo of Shyne on 5th Avenue in New York.
11. Undated photo of Shyne modeling Sean John.
12. 1995 photo of Biggie on the stairs on the set of the video for "One More Chance/Stay With Me (Remix)" in New York.
13. 1998 photo of Charli Baltimore. Her inclusion here is questionable just because she was never signed to the label and she never appeared on any Bad Boy releases that I can recall at the moment. She's here because of her association with Biggie.
14. 1996 photo of Faith Evans from the "Soon As I Get Home" video.
15. 1996 photo of Lil' Kim in New York. Like Baltimore, Kim was never on the label. However, she has worked extensively with Diddy, Biggie and Bad Boy and is generally considered a member of the Bad Boy (extended, if you want) family.
16. 1996 photo of Total. A lot of pink.
17. 1996 photo of 112. A lot of white.
The DJ's & Producers section features a small photo of Berry Gordy and Diddy in front of a mixing board at Daddy's House in 1997.
The R&B section features a 1996 photo of New Edition (with Bobby Brown) in what only could be described as an assortment of outfits.
The book's final glossy page features 3 photos of Luther Campbell (Uncle Luke) from the "One More Chance/Stay With Me (Remix)" video.
The book also features photos of Run DMC, Eric B. and Rakim, LL Cool J, DJ Bobcat, E-Love, Cut Creator, Slick Rick, Onyx, Nice & Smooth, The Afros, Public Enemy, EPMD, Redman, 3rd Bass, DMX, Eve, Wink 1100, Swizz Beatz, Memphis Bleek, Ja Rule, Beanie Sigel, Russell Simmons, The Real Roxanne, Kimora Lee Simmons, Marley Marl, Lyor Cohen, Hank Shocklee, Nikki D, Chuck Chillout, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Keith Murray, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool Moe Dee, Boogie Down Productions, Too Short, Biz Markie and New York, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G. Rap, MC Shan, De La Soul, Naughty by Nature, House of Pain, The Fugees, Canibus, Cypress Hill, Kriss Kross, Jermaine Dupri, Dr. Dre, Eazy E, The D.O.C., Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Suge Knight (I know, I know), MC Hammer, Salt N' Pepa, En Vogue, TLC, Yo Yo, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Aaliyah, MC Lyte, Trina, Flavor Unit, Kid Capri, Miles Davis, Easy Mo Bee, Guru, DJ Premier, Funkmaster Flex, Timbaland, Grandmaster Flash, Tone and Poke, Blackstreet, Usher, Ed Lover and Doctor Dre, The Fat Boys, Chubb Rock, Doug E. Fresh, Leaders of the New School, Kid 'n Play, Immature, Ghostface Killah, Brand Nubian, Das EFX and CL Smooth and Pete Rock.
I've been a Bad Boy fan forever and most of the Bad Boy related photos in here, I had never seen before opening it. If you love hip hop photos, this is definitely a book worthy of your collection.
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