Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Hip hop photography book: "Beyond South Central": Rap legends N.W.A. as seen thru the lens of Ithaka Darin Pappas (1988-1990)

 





The second edition of the 2016 photography book Beyond South Central (Sweatlodge Publishing) is now available on amazon.com. The book is the result of the three years Ithaka Darin Pappas freelanced for Priority Records, capturing the primary imagery of N.W.A., documenting almost the entire lifespan of the group, from their obscure South Central beginnings to their meteoric rise to controversial super-stardom. This publication includes iconic images such as The Miracle Mile Shot, The Bleacher Shot, Backstage In Phoenix and also rarely seen candid images of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy E, MC Ren, DJ Yella and The D.O.C.

Ithaka Darin Pappas began experimenting with his father's 35mm and medium-format film cameras as early as age 5. He started assisting professional photographers immediately after high school, and within a year, began publishing much of his own work. Perhaps the most published (and republished) commercial photographic works by IDP are his early archival images of the influential LA Gangsta rap group NWA. Pappas worked for the West Coast record label Priority Records between 1988 and 1991 and documented almost the entire lifespan of the group, from their obscure South Central beginnings to their meteoric rise to controversial super-stardom.

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Historic NWA Photographs by Ithaka Darin Pappas Currently Appearing in Two Museum Shows

Historic photographs of hip hop legends N.W.A. by Ithaka Darin Pappas are currently appearing in two north American museum shows; "Contact High: A Visual History of Hip Hop" curated by Vikki Tobak at Seattle's Museum Of Pop and "Boyz n the Hood" at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles curated by Esme Douglas. During the years from 1988-1990, Ithaka Darin Pappas photographed Eazy E & NWA a reported 18-20 times. Images from these photographic sessions have appeared in the books; Hip Hop Raised Me by DJ Semtex, Contact High: A Visual History of Hip Hop by Vikki Tobak, Approximate Gestures : Infinite Spaces in the Fiction of Percival Everett by Anthony Stuart and The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll.

Saturday, April 2, 2022

Indian-American Oscar Winner, Joseph Patel, To Direct "Contact High" Documentary

Patel in 2019, shown with the image "Skate Outta Compton" (Eazy E photographed by Ithaka Darin Pappas in 1989 from the book, Contact High: A Visual History Of Hip Hop). Indian-American Oscar Winner, Joseph Patel (producer of Best Documentary project Summer Of Soul, To Direct Contact High Documentary Popular book “Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop” is headed to the screen as a documentary. Universal Music Group’s Mercury Studios and Republic Records’ Federal Films, along with Jupiter Entertainment, are behind the adaptation. Joseph Patel is tapped to direct; Jupiter’s Patrick Reardon, Federal Films’ Chris Blackwell and Dana Sano, and Barak Moffitt and Daniel Seliger of Mercury Studios, along with “Contact High” author Vikki Tobak, will executive produce, along with Fred Brathwaite (aka Fab 5 Freddy). The 2018 photo book chronicles the rise of hip-hop from the music of the streets to commercial success through outtakes from more than 100 photo shoots. Likewise the doc will utilize contact sheets, stylized set pieces and archival interviews in telling the story visually. SOURCE VARIETY: https://variety.com/2021/film/news/contact-high-hip-hop-book-documentary-1235049534/

'Dr. Dre is Made in LA'

Source: https://www.imore.com/beats-launches-new-video-campaign-titled-dr-dre-made-la MADE IN LA Beats launches new video campaign titled 'Dr. Dre is Made in LA' The Beats Fit Pro videos just keep coming. Dr Dre Is Made In La Source: Beats Beats has released a new video highlighting its Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds. The video features Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and more. Dr. Dre and many more stars just performed at this year's Super Bowl halftime show. To coincide with the Super Bowl halftime show performance and the brand's new wireless earbuds, Beats has released a new video featuring Dr. Dre called "Dr. Dre is Made in LA." You can watch the new video below: PROUD to be Made in LA Featuring Dr. Dre and archival footage of Anderson .Paak, Kayvon Thibodeux, Roddy Ricch, Serena Williams, Snoop Dogg and Vince Staples as well a 1988 still photograph portrait of Dre entitled "Miracle Dre" by Ithaka Darin Pappas The video, which featuring a number of stars, also shows off the new Beats Fit Pro, the brand's latest wirless earbuds. The earbuds, which feature Apple's H1 chip for easy AirPods-like connection with the company's products, also include noise cancellation and sweat resistance, making them an AirPods Pro competitor for those looking for a high quality set of wireless earbuds. The new video featuring Dr. Dre as "Made in LA" is quite timely as he just headlined this years' Super Bowl in...Los Angeles. In addition to Dre, the Super Bowl halftime show also featured Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and more:

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Portrait of Dr. Dre by Ithaka Darin Pappas featured in new video "Dre Dre Is Made In LA"

Source: https://www.imore.com/beats-launches-new-video-campaign-titled-dr-dre-made-la MADE IN LA Beats launches new video campaign titled 'Dr. Dre is Made in LA' The Beats Fit Pro videos just keep coming. Dr Dre Is Made In La Source: Beats Beats has released a new video highlighting its Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds. The video features Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and more. Dr. Dre and many more stars just performed at this year's Super Bowl halftime show. To coincide with the Super Bowl halftime show performance and the brand's new wireless earbuds, Beats has released a new video featuring Dr. Dre called "Dr. Dre is Made in LA." You can watch the new video below: PROUD to be Made in LA Featuring Dr. Dre and archival footage of Anderson .Paak, Kayvon Thibodeux, Roddy Ricch, Serena Williams, Snoop Dogg and Vince Staples as well a 1988 still photograph portrait of Dre entitled "Miracle Dre" by Ithaka Darin Pappas The video, which featuring a number of stars, also shows off the new Beats Fit Pro, the brand's latest wirless earbuds. The earbuds, which feature Apple's H1 chip for easy AirPods-like connection with the company's products, also include noise cancellation and sweat resistance, making them an AirPods Pro competitor for those looking for a high quality set of wireless earbuds. The new video featuring Dr. Dre as "Made in LA" is quite timely as he just headlined this years' Super Bowl in...Los Angeles. In addition to Dre, the Super Bowl halftime show also featured Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and more:

Thursday, January 27, 2022

Eazy E And Venice Beach Skateboarders (1989) Photographed by: Ithaka Darin Pappas

Eazy E And Venice Beach Skateboarders (1989) Photographed by: Ithaka Darin Pappas. Image is featured in the book Contact High (Random House). https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/thrashers-use-of-eazy-e-photo-allegedly-infringes-copyright