Today, it’s inevitable to see the impact hip-hop has had globally. Though there has been a lot of reference material on its emergence and subsequent influence in the US, there are still many untold stories about how this movement made its way to early adopters such as the UK, the Netherlands, and France in the early ‘80s.
Together with some of Europe’s most prominent creative communities, Polaroid explores the influence of Hip Hop on creative culture in London, Paris and Amsterdam. The documentary takes the perspectives of art, music, lifestyle and photography, through a variety of disciplines and generations, featuring the stories of Charlie Dark (founder Run Dem Crew), Edson Sabajo (co-founder Patta), James Dridi (founder Paperboy), Joseph McDermott (founder Victory Lap Radio), Solomon ‘Soulz’ Boyede (co-founder Places+Faces) and others.
The Polaroid medium has been used for decades to document the rise of Hip Hop since its emergence from the Bronx, New York, allowing for important milestone moments in the movement beyond just album covers to be preserved. Today’s Hip Hop influenced communities in Europe, amongst many other creative circles, are still embracing the heritage of Warhol era portraits and the unfiltered DIY nature that drew them into the movement in the first place.
Documentary Polaroid photography by:
© OUNI - APOLAROIDSTORY.COM
© Randy Soewarno - https://www.gowtu.com/
Archival Polaroid photography by:
© Mike Schreiber - https://www.mikeschreiber.com/
© Places + Faces - https://www.placesplusfaces.com/
We are pleased to present the full length film below.
Additional articles from our zine on each of these protagonists can be found below. Showing an in depth glimpse into their world with personal anecdotes, spotlighting hip-hop's undeniable impact within their circles on this side of the globe.
Joseph McDermott - Victory Lap