Ricky Powell, a legendary hip-hop photographer who worked with Beastie Boys, Run DMC and many more, has died.
A prolific figure on the New York scene, Powell died of heart failure, aged 59. His manager and business partner Tono Radvany confirmed the news on 1st February, saying, “I just want to let everybody know he was a very special man, and he will be sorely missed”.
A close affiliate of Beastie Boys, Powell was sometimes referred to as the group’s fourth member, having even appeared in the video for ‘Fight For Your Right To Party’. Powell also had a close relationship with Def Jam, frequently snapping artists from the label as their go-to photographer.
Hip-hop photographer and “the fourth Beastie Boy” Ricky Powell has died at 59 years old.
The news was confirmed by his manager and business partner Tono Radvany, “I just want to let everybody know he was a very special man, and he will be sorely missed.”
A New York City native, Powell was best known for his work with the Beastie Boys. He joined the group and Run-DMC for their Raising Hell tour in 1986, and a number of the photographs he took became some of the most remembered images in the history of music. He then became the de facto in-house photographer of Def Jam Recordings and went on to collaborate with the two groups and other names such as Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Eric B and Rakim and more. He released a total of four books and even hosted his own Public-access TV show
New York, NY – Famed New York City photographer Ricky Powell, who was often referred to as the “fourth Beastie Boy,” has reportedly passed away. According to a source close to Powell, he died of heart failure on Monday (February 1) at the age of 59.
News of Powell’s passing started making the rounds on Twitter with The Roots’ Questlove being among the first Hip Hop artists to pay tribute to him by quoting a lyric from the Beastie Boys’ single “Car Thief” in which he’s mentioned.
“Homeboy Throw In The Towel …” he wrote. “#RIPRickster.”
Homeboy Throw In The Towel… #RIpRickster.
Credit: Burak Cingi/John Gunion/Redferns/Getty
Pharrell Williams has claimed that “all but one” of the tracks on Justin Timberlake‘s debut album, ‘Justified’, were originally written for Michael Jackson.
Speaking on Revolt TV podcast
Drink Champs, Pharrell revealed that he was regularly sending beats to both Jackson and Prince, apparently without success.
“John McClain was his manager at the time,” the Neptunes producer explained. “We sent him pretty much all the stuff y’all are hearing on the ‘Justified’ album. That’s all the Michael stuff.”
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According to Pharrell, almost every song on Timberlake’s 2002 debut was put together with Jackson in mind. “All but one song, they were all written for Michael,” he said.