 To celebrate all things Hip Hop and the 25th anniversary of the release of the definitive Hip Hop film ‘Wild Style’, PYMCA is creating ‘wildstyles’ an exhibition that features classic rare photographs hailing back to the ‘old skool’ days. The exhibition will feature not only photographs but also music from renowned hip hop DJ’s, breakdancers and Graffiti art.
PYMCA have collaborated with some of Hip Hop’s grand masters to take you back to the halcyon days of Adidas shell toes and Run DMC. Wildstyles is an exhibition that takes you to the heart of hip hop, showing how this music became a way of life for a global through the eyes of those who were there. Photographers involved include names such as Normski, Janette Beckman, Eddie Otchere, Ted Polhemus, Naki, Paul Hartnett, Peter Anderson, Adam Friedman and many more… Back in the days, the founding fathers of an emerging scene, DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash, could not have imagined the now global reach of the new form of music that they pioneered. Hip Hop culture exploded like a bomb from the projects of the Bronx in the late 70’s and early 80’s. The combination of Scratch DJing, Rapping, Breakdancing and Graffiti Art have formed a complete subculture, which has taken on the mainstream and won. Hip Hop is now the most popular music in the world. From the first Block parties thrown by Kool Herc in 1974 to the ultra ‘Bling’ of modern Hip Hop and R&B, Hip-Hop has gone through many stages of development. The continuous ‘re-inventions’ of the Hip Hop sound including the emerging UK Hip Hop and Grime scenes have managed to keep Hip Hop as relevant to today’s youth as much as it was to the youth of the last 30 years and this exhibition charters all territories. PYMCA together with its partners will create an exhibition that will be a special experience for all visitors. Beyond just the images, PYMCA Gallery is inviting you to a ‘hip hop world’... The venue will be transformed, as with all PYMCA exhibitions, into a hip hop heaven - with graffiti artwork and classic memorabilia complimented by the unique archive of imagery from over 25 years of Hip Hop and some of those classic tunes that take us all back… 
“The best part of my Youth was at the same time as Hip hop the voice and culture of a generation was invented. Suddenly there was a scene, a sound and similar people on the other side of the world that I could relate to. It was as if everybody could have an identity that would speak for him or her. Just because some of us were from poor backgrounds didn’t mean we couldn’t feel rich and hip hop culture is all about showing what you can do and expressing yourself fully”. - Normski. PYMCA is an independent, London-based archive, which since 1997 has been sourcing, and collecting quality photography documenting youth and subculture fashions, movements and lifestyles from all over the world, past and present. PYMCA is unique in that our images deliver an intrinsic understanding of these cultures, as opposed to the typical media stereotyping and pigeonholing. Many of our photographers were deeply involved in the cultures that they captured on film giving their work an added intensity and honesty and delivering a more genuine cultural insight. Wildstyles - an exhibition of Old Skool Hip Hop photographs by PYMCA 13th September – 2nd November 2007 PYMCA Gallery
41 Clerkenwell Road. EC1M 5RS 020 7251 8338
Open: Mon-Fri 11–6:30pm 
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