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Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop

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Produced by

The Museum of Pop Culture

Partners

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Photos

Description

Provided by Museum of Pop Culture

CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History of Hip-Hop explores four decades of photography, from the late 1970s to today, documenting a revolution not just in music, but in politics, race relations, fashion, and culture. The images—many of them displayed alongside contact sheets from the session—give us a rare glimpse into the creative process behind some of hip-hop’s most iconic photos.

While the music was establishing itself as a cultural force, photographers were on the scene, documenting the urban spaces where hip-hop came alive. The music reflected everyday experience; the images captured and memorialized it, providing a necessary perspective—sometimes empowering, sometimes controversial.

A single image can define a decisive moment, creating an instant icon. And that’s exactly the point. Photography has helped shape hip-hop, which has always been about self-definition. Press photos and album covers announce the arrival of the style, swagger, bravado, singularity, and artistry that help the performer become an icon. For this genre that speaks truth to power, reclaims and concretizes identity, idealizes self-representation, and visualizes political rhetoric, the images are inseparable from the music.

Exhibition partners

Sole DXB

Area size

200 to 500 sqm, 500 to 1000 sqm

Availability

2025 / 2026 / 2027 / 2028 / 2029 / 2030

Hiring fee

100 000 € - 200 000 €

Package format: Turnkey

Fee Excludes: Shipping cost/logistics fee, All/some printed graphics, On-site installation supervision, Installer/courier travel costs and Min. Rental Period: 13 weeks

Core experience

Original collection / Panels and graphics / Reproductions

Collections

Photographs / Textiles & Costumes / Paintings Drawings & Prints / Manuscripts Books & Maps / Models / Film & Sound

Languages

English

Technical requirements

High ceiling height

-Ceiling height is a minimum of 10ft.
-Unused artifacts must be kept on museum premises in a secure, climate-controlled (Temp and RH) storage during the exhibition.

Security Requirements

-Trained museum security staff and/or professional guards must be present to provide security and crowd control during the exhibition.
-The exhibition gallery/galleries must be locked during closed hours.
-Alarm system/guards are required during closed hours.

Power and Lighting

-Dedicated full-power circuits for exhibit casework and AV hardware
-Sufficient outlets and/or power supplies to distribute exhibit circuits to components within exhibit
-Sufficient lighting fixtures, with UV filters and a variety of lamps, lenses, and filters to adjust the beam spread and intensity
-Light fixtures require UV filters and a compliment of lamps, lenses and filters to adjust the beam spread. Non-artifact items can have slightly higher light levels.

Available package options

Turnkey / Collection and interpretation

Add-ons

Documentary film / Selfie spots

Highlights

Curatorial excellence / Star object / Treasure collection

ARTIFACT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
•
Exclusive images of some of hip-hop’s biggest influences, including Missy Elliot, Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, Nas, Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.
•
Dozens of unedited contact sheets ranging from Barron Claiborne’s iconic Notorious B.I.G. portraits to images of Aaliyah, Wu-Tang Clan, and Salt-N-Pepa.
•
Supporting artifacts from MOPOP’s permanent collection upon request. Artifacts can include costumes, mixing tables, original liner notes, fliers, etc.