Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious

The retrospective at Fotografiska shows where the heart of hip-hop beats and traces over 50 years of its history, from its roots in the Bronx in the 1970s to its evolution as a global billion-dollar industry.

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  – Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls & Lil’Cease, 1993

• – David Banner, Missisippi, 2003

• – Eminem live at his rst NYC show at music club “Tramps”, March 1999

Have you ever felt the power that comes from expressing yourself freely and finding a common voice with others fighting for the same goals? That's exactly what hip-hop is; a transformative genre that reimagines community and continues to empower people around the world today. From the crews of the early years to the great artists of today, no one remains untouched by the influence of this movement. 

On September 20, 2024 Fotografiska Berlin opens the exhibition “Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious”. We invite you to discover what collective expression has to do with empowerment, captured by photographers who were - and still are - in the middle of the action.

All eyes on: Lauryn Hill, Tupac Shakur and Erykah Badu

With 200 impressive photographs by more than 50 renowned photographers such as Martha Cooper, Jonathan Mannion, Janette Beckman and Campbell Addy, the exhibition features iconic figures from the hip-hop scene including: Beastie Boys, Lauryn Hill, Tupac Shakur, Erykah Badu and Kendrick Lamar.

The exhibition at Fotografiska Berlin covers the many chapters of hip-hop history, starting with the moment on August 11, 1973, when DJ Kool Herc's party in the Bronx laid the foundation for the genre. At its core, it's about how hip-hop has brought people together and provided a platform for marginalized voices. In doing so, it has enabled political and social change and countered oppression. The photographs are more than a chronological account. They show how hip-hop has enabled empowerment and thus a revolutionary movement.

“Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious” traces the development of German rap

“Hip Hop: Conscious, Unconscious” has already been exhibited at Fotografiska New York and Stockholm and is being given an exclusive extension in Berlin with ‘Hip Hop in Germany’. This part of the exhibition traces the development of German rap in five different phases. From the early hip-hop jams of the 1980s through the golden era of the late 1990s and early 2000s to the diverse scene of today, this part of the exhibition combines documentary photography, portraits and interactive elements. It offers a new perspective on the cultural and political influence of rap in Germany.  

Runtime: Fri, 20/09/2024 to Sun, 26/01/2025

Takes place here:

• Fotografiska Berlin