The Greatest Day In Hip-Hop
Shit. September 29, 1998. Not only the Greatest Day In Hip-Hop, but the best decade ever (for me at least up until that point in time). That was a pretty damn-good year (1998) for yer boy. I don’t even think I was in jail that year, which is strange for that time period (the 90’s). All I really remember from the 1990’s was getting my little Honda Accord squader with the ridiculous system, bangin’ all types of bad-ass females, and slingin’ heavy. heavy drugs. 1996 I refer to as “my empire year” but that’s a whole ‘nother story. The one thing about the 90’s was all the best hiphop was coming out. Shit, The Chronic (Dr. Dre), Doggystyle (Snoop Dogg) right after that, Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers (Wu-Tang) was all you heard, I still remember hearing C.R.E.A.M. for the first time, me & my boy, all high on loveboat (weed & wet) and C.R.E.A.M. came on Power 99fm. That shit blew my mind, all the music that was coming out back then was nothing but fire. The Source and XXL were at each other’s throats trying to be the top hiphop magazine then outta nowhere XXL fucks around and put together “The Greatest Day In Hip-Hop History. This was one of very few magazines I actually paid for. I mean I went back and stole a few extras later but I did pay for the initial copy the first time.
Anyway, XXL pulled some type of power move and got 177 rappers to get together for a picture that was a re-enactment of an earlier picture shot in the same fashion in Harlem in 1959. How in the hell did XXL manage or convince all the hottest rappers of that time to literally meet up at the same place at the same time is some x-files shit, we’ll never know the answer. Maybe they all saw it as a chance to be a part of something historic for the culture. Whatever or however, this was some fly shit to pull off. Nobody got shot or killed and the whole scene was chillin’. It’s sad that this could never happen today with all the weirdo wannabe gangster “rappers” that aren’t even house-broken for the most part. Anyway, enjoy the rest of the post, I’ll holler…
In the realm of hip-hop, numerous photoshoots have achieved iconic status—such as Death Row gracing the cover of Vibe, Lil’ Kim’s provocative “Hard Core” promo poster that revolutionized sensuality, and Kanye West’s introspective portrayal in the bear mascot. However, none of these can surpass the grandeur and ambition captured in the “A Great Day in Hip-Hop” series, meticulously photographed by Gordon Parks for XXL’s seventh issue.
On September 29, 1998, the historic shoot unfolded at 17 East 126th Street in Harlem, New York, and brought together an astounding 177 of hip-hop’s most influential figures of that era. Inspired by Art Kane’s legendary photograph, “A Great Day in Harlem,” which showcased a burgeoning community of Black artists and was published in Esquire in 1959, Parks’ rendition pays homage to its predecessor. It is worth mentioning, though, that “A Great Day in Harlem” had 120 fewer artists congregating on the block that day, highlighting the magnitude of Parks’ achievement.
Some of the rappers in involved were Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz, DJ Evil Dee, Rampage, Kurupt, Wyclef Jean, Cappadonna, Saafir, Scarface, Psycho Les, T La Rock, Special K, Greg Nice, Jarobi, Kool Moe Dee, Maseo, Kool Herc, DJ Scratch, U-God, MC Eiht, Juju, Luke, E-40, Steele, Phife, Tek, Slick Rick, Fab 5 Freddy, Canibus, Buckshot, Fat Joe, Grandmaster Flash, Jermaine Dupri, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kool Keith, Styles P, Q-Tip, Freddie Foxx, MC Shan, Questlove, Posdnuous, Black Thought, Rah Digga, Heather B, Paula Perry, MC Serch, Marley Marl, Chuck Chillout, Grandmaster Caz, Rakim, Shyheim, Sticky Fingaz, Inspectah Deck, Busta Rhymes, Treach, Tajai, Domino, A-Plus, Wise Intelligent, Twista, Da Brat, Xzibit, Opio, Talib Kweli, D-Nice, Common, Pete Rock, Ed O.G., DJ Muggs, Kangol Kid, Cam’ron and so many more. 25 years later (give or take) this moment stands as one of the culture’s greatest.
