almost 40 years ago, the 20th century's most influential sub culture was born today, hip hop is a way of life that dominates fashion, music, art, dance and advertizing it is a far cry from the humble beginnings of experimental rap, graffiti, and break dancing in the run down areas of 1970s new york city, which sparked a revolution watching from the sidelines were photographers janette beckman, joe conzo and martha cooper and now, their glimpses inside the seminal years between 1977 and 1990 will be put on show at the museum of the city of new york revolutionary: this image of the almight kay gee, of the cold crush brothers in 1981, is one of 80 documenting the start of hip hop  fashion, dance and music: jdl of cold crush enraptures a crowd at skatin palace in 1981  iconic: new york city's experimental artists, including jdl and grandmaster caz pictured at club negril in 1981, led the movement  breaking: martha cooper captures the high times crew break dancing outside washington heights police station in 1980  little crazy legs strikes an impromptu pose during a shoot for wild style at riverside park, manhattan, in 1983  the series charts early performances of the cool crush brothers in the early 1980s, and impromptu breakdances on the streets of manhattan in one shot dj kool herc, who is widely credited with creating hip hop by fusing the violent bronx culture with early disco, stares down the barrel of the lens from behind tinted, wide rimmed sunglasses other key figures are seen posing for their first photo shoots, including the members of boogie down productions, a hip hop group from the bronx which masterminded a fusion of dancehall and reggae big daddy kane, one of the most revered rappers in history who found fame with the juice crew in 1986, exhibits the archetypal haircut for hip hop fans during his hey day of 1988 afrika bambaataa, who pioneered electro funk, poses for london born photographer janette beckman in front of a graffiti strewn brick wall in 1983, in a nod to the street roots of the movement and queen latifah, who made waves by rapping about domestic violence in 1990, also makes an appearance later photos show the colorful album covers produced for girl band salt n pepa and busta rhymes the exhibition will run from april 1 to september 15 mainstream: the movement bore global acts such as salt n pepa, pictured in 1987, as it came to dominate the music industry  rapper krs one and dj scott la rock, pictured in 1987, rose to fame with boogie down productions  cold crush's tony tone poses up alongside kool herc, a dj widely credited with inventing hip hop, in 1979  charlie chase of the cold crush brothers at norman thomas high school in 1981  big daddy kane, pictured in 1988, found fame with the juice crew in 1986 he is known as one of the most highly skilled rappers to date  afrika bambaataa, who pioneered electro funk, poses for london born photographer janette beckman in front of a graffiti strewn brick wall in 1983, in a nod to the street roots of the movement  busta rhymes, a member of the rap group leaders of the new school, is pictured in a promotional shot in 1990  queen latifah cemented her place in the annals of hip hop history by rapping about women's issues and domestic violence  long island became a satellite hub for hip hop, from which epmd (photographed in 1989) was borne  chuck d and flava flav, of public enemy, exhibit typical styles of the time in 1987  filmmaker charlie ahearn, who made the hip hop movie wild style, is pictured on set in 1982  ll cool j, with cut creator, e love and b rock in manhattan in 1987 
cool crush brothers boogie down productions kool herc 1987 1990 new york bronx joe conzo martha cooper janette beckman museum of the city of new york the hey day
three photographers janette beckman, joe conzo and martha cooper charted 1987 1990 in new york  experimental rappers, breakdancers, djs, and graffiti artists were rising up from the bronx to create hip hop  the early pioneers such as cool crush brothers, boogie down productions and kool herc changed the industry  these images from a set of 80 exhibited at museum of the city of new york give glimpse into the hey day 