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5 rap photographers who are always ready to shoot
Rap photography of our favorite legends gives us some of the most iconic images we have ever seen in pop culture.
It just so happens that when we think of rap photography, we think of the rappers being captured. But little do many people know, that rappers themselves like to take their own flics from time to time.
Look no further than A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, Pharrell Williams, Frank Ocean, and 21 Savage to see rappers going in with a camera in hand.
Here is a look at these rap legends who have dabbled in photography.
A$AP Rocky looks just as good behind the lens as he does in front of it
As photogenic as Rocky appears, he is not hesitant to try new things either. This is sonically evident via his “TESTING” experiment as well as his creative endeavors (namely, the camera rotation transition that he unleashed during his A$AP Forever video).
It is so important to branch out of your comfort zone to truly tap into your inner being. A$AP has slightly distanced himself from his crew, in a sense, to explore more creative lanes and collaborations. The rapper taking an escapade into the world of photography is a prime example of that.
Tyler the Creator has excelled as a photographer in the rap music sphere
One who embraces the hate and lowkey admires insults, Tyler has never cared about what people think of him. With a radical entrance into the industry (Yonkers video) and a ‘backpack rap’ type vibe, he shifts the landscape with his work.
Unafraid to dive into new mediums, Tyler actually shot his own Rolling Stone cover with Kanye at the forefront. Talk about a rapper doing his thing in the photography world.
Say what you want about this man, but there is never a dull moment with him.
Pharrell Williams is also a photographer? What doesn’t the rap legend do?
Skateboard P is quite possibly the greatest producer of our generation. Extremely humble and reverent, Pharrell is just as versatile.
You know what they say, “When it comes to streams of income, ONE is much too close to NONE.”
Pharrell’s music output (rapping, singing, producing), BBC Ice Cream Brand, positivity campaigns, and skin-care endeavors truly make a difference in communities worldwide.
By understanding the magnitude of his opportunities, Pharrell never relinquishes an opportunity to be great. That also goes for photography for the rapper and his warm embrace of outside cultures at an early outset.
Pharrell is an absolute rap legend, and if he wants to be one in photography too, we are not betting against him.
Frank Ocean the legend continues to surprise us
Frank the finesser moves so quietly and with so much pizazz it is nuts. He is an example of rap meeting photography and sparks immediately flying.
Dropping a double album to satisfy his contract requirements, while raking in a bag from Apple Music right when Apple Music started to get poppin’ is truly a masterpiece in and of itself.
Notably, Frank was seen at the 2019 Met Gala snapping flicks on a classic Contax T3. Without a doubt, the rap and lyrical genius carries complexities like photography skill that separate him from others and that is why he is a generational talent.
21 Savage is a rap photographer that you would not imagine
A near-death experience will certainly make one shift their trajectory.
This is exactly what 21 Savage did and he has made it more and more difficult to get near him ever since his foray into the hip-hop industry.
Just recently, the price of a Savage feature verse reached six figures, and the rapper is unafraid to dabble in video games, cartoons, photography and/or embody the villainous role.
“Young Savage why you snappin’ so hard?! Why ya picture captions so hard? Why you got like 4 SD Cards? Sheesh, is that DSLR?!”
*Read to the beat of 21 Savage song – No Heart*
These rap photographers are always ready to shoot
Photography depends upon so many pivotal factors. A picture speaks one thousand words and the time spent to capture it happens within seconds.
With that, there is so much more than just seconds that are put into becoming a great photographer. The key aspects revolve around lighting, setting, details, and comfortability between the one taking the flick and the photogenic one.
These photographers, while headlining as rap stars in their daily pursuits, sure know how to snap a fire picture. And for all of them, their endeavors outside of music are perhaps just as impressive as their highlights on stage.