Photograph by
Powell, Ricky, American, 1961 - 2021
Subject of
Kool Keith, American, born 1963
Presley, Elvis, American, 1935 - 1977
Powell, Ricky, American, 1961 - 2021
Date
1999; printed 2003
Medium
dye and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (2015.132.355.1 Sheet): 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
H x W (2015.132.355.1 Image): 9 1/2 × 14 in. (24.1 × 35.6 cm)
H x W (2015.132.355.2 Sheet): 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm)
H x W (2015.132.355.2 Image): 9 1/2 × 14 in. (24.1 × 35.6 cm)
Description
A color photograph of Kool Keith in the photographer's bathroom.
The image presented is round, with a distorted, fisheye view of Kool Keith wearing a light tan leather jacket and looking into a white hand mirror that he holds with his proper left hand. His proper right hand is behind his head and he wears a black Elvis-style pompadour wig. The back of his hair is visible reflected in the small wall mirror behind him. The room is a small, white walled bathroom. The walls have been covered in posters and magazine tear-outs of sports stars, musicians, and women. A grey metal pipe runs vertically to the right of the wall mirror and the top of a toilet is visible in the lower right corner of the image. Keith stands below the shower curtain rod, from which hang one red and one white towel.
There are two identical prints, 2015.132.355.1 and 2015.132.355.2. Beneath the image of .1 is a handwritten inscription reading ["KOOL KEITH" / "BLACK ELVIS" WHAT HAVE YOU... / IN MY BATHROOM '99 ... WHAT IS THIS, A BEAUTY SALON?] along with the photographer's signature [Ricky Powell / '03]. The second print has no inscriptions, front or back.
Place captured
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Eyejammie Hip-Hop Photography Collection
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Type
chromogenic color prints
Topic
Hair
Hip-hop (Music)
Musicians
Photography
Rappers (Musicians)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.132.355.1-.2
Restrictions & Rights
© Ricky Powell
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd53c9746ee-e61c-413c-8c29-308501ff9dfa

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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