In this episode of Historican, we sit down with Joe Conzo Jr., the Bronx-born photographer whose iconic images captured the birth of Hip Hop. Known as “the man who took Hip Hop’s baby pictures,” Conzo documented the early days of the culture through his work with the legendary Cold Crush Brothers, preserving a visual history of a movement that would go on to change the world. Joe shares stories from his upbringing surrounded by activism and Latin music, his experiences photographing the South Bronx in the 1970s and ’80s, and how his personal journey—including his work as an EMT and being a first responder on 9/11—shaped the way he sees life through the lens. We also discuss his landmark book Born in the Bronx, his archive at Cornell University, and the global legacy of his photography. Join us as we explore how Joe Conzo Jr. turned his camera into a tool of cultural preservation and became one of the most important visual historians of Hip Hop. #hiphop #history #hiphophistory #puertoricans #boricua #bronx #boogiedown
