Legendary hip hop photographer Ricky Powell has died

Legendary hip hop photographer Ricky Powell has died.

Powell was a pivotal figure in the hip hop scene, working regularly with the Beastie Boys (he was referred to as the fourth member of the group) and photographing the likes of Run DMC, Eazy E, LL Cool J, Eric B. & Rakim and Method Man.

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Reports say the 59-year-old passed away due to heart failure on February 1. His manager and business partner Tono Radvany confirmed his death, saying: "I just want to let everybody know he was a very special man, and he will be sorely missed."

Q-Tip, A-Trak and DJ Semtex are among those who have paid tribute to Powell.

Born in New York, Powell spent the early years of his career snapping stars in the city. Outside of hip hop, he shot people like actor Laurence Fishburne, Madonna, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.

His longstanding relationship with the Beastie Boys saw him join them on Run DMC's Raising Hell tour and he later became the official photographer for the Beastie's on their Licence To Ill tour in 1987. He also featured in their song 'Car Thief'.

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Numerous books documenting Powell's work have been released, including Oh Snap!: The Rap Photography of Ricky Powell, Public Access: Ricky Powell Photographs 1985-2005 and The Individualist. There's also a documentary called The Individualist documenting his career.

Check out some of his images below.

Dave Turner is Mixmag's Commercial Content Editor, follow him on Twitter

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