Famous New York hip-hop photographer Ricky Powell, who was dubbed the “fourth Beastie Boy”, died at age 59.
According to reports, Powell died of heart failure.
His manager, Tono Radvany, confirmed the news, saying: ‘I just want everyone to know that he was a very special man and that he will be sorely missed.’
In the 1980s and 1990s, Powell was an icon on the New York music scene as a de facto in-house photographer for Def Jam Recordings. His portraits of legends, including Eric B and Rakim, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Madonna, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sofia Coppola and Laurence Fishburne were displayed in galleries and published in photo albums.
However, it is for his work with the Beastie Boys that he is best known, and he was hailed as the ‘fourth’ member of the hip-hop trio.
This happened after he had his big break in 1986, when he toured with the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC – having previously been a classmate to the sister of Beastie Boys member Ad-Rock.
Solidifying his place, the trio immortalized Powell in the song Car Thief, with the lyrics: ‘Homeboy, throw in the towel / Your girl was d ** ked by Ricky Powell.’
Tributes came after the news, with many in the music and entertainment industry sharing Powell’s legendary memories and photos.
Public Enemy’s Chuck D wrote: ‘#RestInBeats The Rickster, also known as RICKY Powell, of course, to the right of Clyde Frazier was the typical New York Cityer, the iconic B Boy and the’ NEW YORK great moments and figure freezer ‘as a photographer. He shot with authentic New York style and ease before the popular term.
LL Cool J shared a series of images of him on Instagram with Powell and wrote: ‘Your 📸 captured the culture. Rest in power. ‘
Rapper Q-Tip paid tribute, writing on Twitter: ‘Rip 2 my man Ricky Powell. So, New York officer … the parties where he rocked the slides … the jokes and most importantly, his capture of life.
Sharing an illustration of Powell on social media, Questlove shared a long tribute and praised the photographer for being the best tour guide.
He wrote: ‘Scream at Rickster for being our first tour guide. We were just a few young cats in the game on our first American tour and, like the fledglings we were, Rick was the high school cat who literally introduced us to everything … I mean, at that point 94 Beasties were not the 84 Beasties that I I grew up.
“They were responsible family cats, doing meditation and exercise and, like the wildest thing we did, was renting a kart track in Utah (thanks Yauch) – we weren’t the smarties we grew up to be. We were just getting into the game. Powell was the oldest who had made that figure who taught us everything.
‘On the last day he said to me’ always keep memories, documents and photos’. I never forgot that. Thank you Rickster! Rest at Breakbeats Man. ‘
Born in Brooklyn, Powell released the books Public Access: Ricky PowellPhotos 1985–200, Oh Snap! And Frozade Moments: Classic Street Photography by Ricky Powell.
He was also recently the subject of a new documentary, Ricky Powell: The Individualist, which debuted last year.
The photographer also had his own publicly accessible TV show, Rappin ‘With the Rickster, which aired from 1990 to 1996. In it, he interviewed several stars, including Russell Simmons, Doug E Fresh, Harold Hunter, Kool Keith, Rahzel and Cypress Hill.