Images of the Real ‘The Get Down.’ Jamel Shabazz Chronicles the Early Days of Hip-hop.

Jamel Shabazz

Over the past 40 years, hip-hop has transformed from a local subculture in New York’s Bronx borough, to a global phenomenon.

The hit Netflix series “The Get Down” recently shed new light on the climate that birthed hip-hop music, but as with most iconic cultural movements, you really had to be there.

From the 1970’s to the 1980’s, Brooklyn native Jamel Shabazz navigated the streets of New York City, documenting the early days of hip-hop every step of the way. His images, which are compiled in Back in the Days and A Time Before Crack tell a story that embodies the spirit and the energy of Black and Latino neighborhoods in late 70’s and early 80’s New York.


Jamel Shabazz

Jamel Shabazz

Jamel Shabazz

Jamel Shabazz

Jamel Shabazz

Jamel Shabazz

Jamel Shabazz

Jamel Shabazz

Jamel Shabazz