INTERVIEW: Ernie Paniccioli
Interview with Ernie Paniccioli by Kobi Annobil Ernie Panccioli has shot them all. And when I say “them” I mean some of the icons of our time. His portfolio boasts the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nas, Lauryn Hill, The Dalai Lama, Eminem and Queen Latifah. The list is seemingly endless. Ernie got his start shooting graffiti in New York in the 70’s and would go on to become a world renowned documentarian of the art-form that is hip-hop. It is a journey that has spanned over three decades, seen him make two films, release nine books, become an ambassador for KRS-One’s Temple Of Hip-Hop and still have time to explore the world of Punk Rock and his own spirituality. And he may only just be getting started... When did you start to take an interest in photography? Who were your earliest influences? Mid 70's. Edward S. Curtis You started out shooting graffiti, but what is your earliest music related memory of hip-hop? Kurtis Blow Who, out of everyone you've shot, was the most interesting, and why? The Dalai Lama because of the spiritual history and mystical quality of his life. Have you been around any significant moments in hip-hop history while you were shooting? The planning of the Stop The Violence Movement and The Million Man March. The Meeting between Min. Farrakhan and Dr. Betty Shabazz. Touring with Public Enemy as well as being with Chuck D when he met Nelson Mandela and shooting at the H.E.A.L video among hundreds of other powerful events both political and musical. Some photographers are staunch advocates of using film for their work. Do you still shoot on celluloid or have you made the transition to digital? I use both film and digital. Both are simply tools and to argue over them is to miss the more important mission which is to capture a moment in time creatively. You hail from Brooklyn, New York - who would you say, in your opinion is the rap artist who has embodied what the borough stands for best? BIG Are there any young upcoming photographers - under your tutelage or not - that you see having a bright future in the documentation of hip-hop culture? First, Hip Hop is an art-form and not a culture and second only one young man moves me with his work and it transcends Hip Hop. His name is Akintola Hanif aka HYZE Is there anyone you would like to shoot that you haven't had a chance to shoot yet? No, if there were I would set it up and do it. I was supposed to shoot Miles Davis, but he passed away before we were able to meet. You often get to see rappers away from their carefully polished media images - is there anyone who you were led to believe was a certain way on record, but was different in person? Is there anyone you worked with who is the same as they say in their music? Master P. He turned out to be kind, generous, articulate and deeply human. Almost all of the people in Hip Hop are very close to their images, except the ones with huge egos and those that pretend to be tough and gangsta, most of them are on the down low. Besides your work shooting rappers, you've also covered Punk Rock in your time - I've always thought that both genres of music are powered by that rebellious energy - are there any other similarities between hip-hoppers and headbangers that you've worked with? Both are outsider art-forms , both are youth oriented and both are apolitical (meaning they have never united to change the social conditions that their music and art rant and rail against). As someone who has studied rap for years - you've proven that you have an encyclopedic knowledge of not only the music but the culture itself. Hve you ever tried your hand at any of the elements yourself or do you prefer to document it from afar? I am now a stalwart of the 5th Element (Wisdom, Knowledge and Overstanding-The cultural teaching/learning side of Hip Hop) Do you see yourself staying with music related photography in the future or leaning towards some of the more personal work you've done in books like 'Deeper'? As I evolve my work evolves, as I travel my work changes and I have NEVER been fixated on music related photography, that was simply the most visible portion of my work because it was embraced by magazines and television shows. My work can be seen in 9 books at www.lulu.com Are you planning any more movies in the vein of 'The Otherside Of Hip-Hop'? "The Other Side of Hip Hop" is actually my second film, directed and produced by the brilliant Dion Ashman (and is available as a download at www.ourgangitvnet .com for less than a coffee and sandwich.) The first starred ice T, KRS1, LL, Latifah, Kane, Doug E Fersh, Public Enemy, Roxanne Shante, Special Ed, MC Lyte and Flavor Flav and was called "Word Up VIdeo Magazine" and was shot in 1989 and is still available on VH S (unless you buy a DVD copy from me for $30.00
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). At some point I may do a film related simply on my work itself. Amongst your other accomplishments - you were chosen by KRS-One to be the spokesman for the Hip-Hop Temple at the United Nations for the Hip-Hop Peace Conference. Can you speak on that experience? I was grateful for the opportunity and though it was big until I got there and saw who was in the room and then I realized it was HUGE: Flash/Kurtis Blow/Grandmaster Caz/Fabel Pabon/KRS1 and virtually every HipHop/Graf/B-Boty artist that helped build the foundation of Hip Hop. Which songs/ artists do you listen to when you are: Stressed? Sun Ra and Gil Scott Heron Celebrating? Bob Marley Working? Sizzla Relaxing? Bob Dylan and Marvin Gaye as well as Richie Havens and maybe MF DOOM or Ghostface. What projects are you currently working on? What's next for Ernie Paniccioli and his camera? Am seeking funding and sponsorship for a 2011 Major Museum showing of my work in Toronto and The U.K. (where I just did a large show and UK premiere of my film) and a publisher to do a large coffee table book covering the span and depth of my photography. CLICK IMAGE BELOW VIEW MORE OF ERNIE PANICCIOLI
