Iconic Hip-Hop Photographer Ricky Powell Passes Away At 59

It's another sad day for the Hip Hop industry - iconic Hip-Hop Photographer Ricky Powell has passed away at the age of 59. So far, the cause of death has not yet been revealed by Powell's team, but in regard to his passing, Powell's manager and business partner did release a statement to Complex stating, “I just want to let everybody know he was a very special man, and he will be sorely missed.”

Throughout his lengthy career, Powell built a decorated CV for himself by working with house-hold names including celebrities and hip-hop stars alike such as:  LL Cool J, Run DMC, Madonna, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Public Enemy, and, most famously, the Beastie Boys. Thanks to his close association with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, he was endearingly known throughout the music industry as the honorary fourth Beastie Boy, especially after garnering a hilarious shout-out on their song “Car Thief.”

While known as an iconic photographer, Powell was also the author of several photo books, including The Individualist, Public Access, The Rickford Files, and more. The Brooklyn-born photographer also helmed the popular 90s show Rappin’ With the Rickster, in which he interviewed prominent artists of the time, including Doug E Fresh, Cypress Hill, and Kool Keith.

In the announcement of his death, the hip-hop has expressed its condolences over social media. See for yourself 

 Photo Credit:  IthakaDarinPappas, Wikipedia