Legendary Hip-Hop Photographer Chi Modu Has Passed Away
One of Hip-Hop’s most legendary photographers has died. In a developing story, members of the Hip-Hop community are mourning the passing of Chi Modu, who shot iconic images of Biggie Smalls, Tupac Shakur, Eazy-E, Mobb Deep, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and LL Cool J, to name a few.
Smif-n-Wessun’s General Steele and photography peers Vikki Tobak and Danny Hastings are among those who have publicly paid tribute to Modu. No cause of death has been made public at this time. Modu was confirmed to be 54 years old in a New York Times feature late last year. In that piece, Modu sold eight photographs at a Sotheby’s auction. One, a Biggie print, fetched over $30,000.
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Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in New Jersey, Chi Modu attended the famed Lawrenceville School while much of his family was across the ocean. Chi began his relationship with photojournalism while as a student at Rutgers University. After later time at the International Center of Photography and working at The Amsterdam News in 1991, Modu landed at The Source magazine during the early 1990s. During an inflection point for “The Bible of Hip-Hop,” Modu’s images were crucial. He shot over 30 covers for the publication and established himself as one of the culture’s top photographers. Outside of print work, Chi Modu was tapped for album covers, including Mobb Deep’s The Infamous, Method Man’s Tical, and Black Moon’s Enta da Stage, to name a few. An early photo of Snoop Dogg became the cover for 2017’s Neva Left album.
“I was getting tired,” Havoc told The Times last year about Chi’s circa-1995 photography session with Mobb Deep. “But [Chi Modu] kept on trying to do different scenarios, and I thank him for that, looking back on it now. Because the actual cover of The Infamous album to me, in my mind, it matches the content. We dealt with photographers before that. But with Chi, it just felt different because it felt like he cared.” Modu explained, “I’m not from the hood, but they’re my people, so I feel right at home. I’m looking at a young Black man out here writing lyrics that are driven by his experiences in America, of which I am as well. Our experiences may be parallel, at times intertwining.”
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Images of Biggie in front of the World Trade Center towers, Tupac’s final days, Bad Boy’s “BIG-Mack” campaign, the making of The Chronic, and Eazy-E posed with his 1963 Chevrolet Impala lowrider have become as artful as their subjects. Modu captured a time, space, and energy in Hip-Hop that was influential. He worked across styles, regions, and eras of Hip-Hop. From the Geto Boys to Das EFX, Gang Starr to Ice Cube, Modu made artists look like icons.
In his press bio, Modu shared, “The art world tends to be very exclusive and full of obstacles for both the artists and the public. My goal is to make art more inclusive by pulling an end run on the galleries and the museums, breaking down the barriers, and bringing the art directly to the people. Like graffiti, but legal.”
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During recent years, Chi Modu had offered tutorials on his website and was in the process of developing NFTs with his content. In a 2018 interview with The Music Network, Modu admitted that he declined opportunities to work with some of today’s Rap stars. “I think I’ve done enough,” said the visual artist who wanted to be known for photography beyond just Hip-Hop. While drawing five figures for some of his work, Modu insisted on keeping prints of his work affordable and accessible.
Ambrosia For Heads extends condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Chi Modu. Below is some of his work:
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