Famous Hip-Hop Photographer Joe Conzo’s Top 5 Gems From “The Cipher” Q&A: “We’ve Been [In Hip-Hop] Since Day One” [Audio]

Written By Shawn Setaro

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[Legendary hip-hop photographer Joe Conzo recently sat down with SOHH Correspondent and hip-hop personality Shawn Setaro on his popular “The Cipher” podcast. Listen to the full interview and check out five gems Joe dropped during the Q&A.]

On the Latino influence in hip-hop:

“We’ve been there since day one. Not many people know that Tito Puente played on Sugar Hill Gang’s first album. What’s so ideal about the culture is that it’s so mixed and diverse. African Americans are in the forefront, but the Latino contribution’s been there from the beginning.”

On the wardrobe of his friends The Cold Crush Brothers:

“Eventually it got into coordination of wearing different outfits – the leather pants and the leather tops. It just grew, and it got a little crazy at one time. I couldn’t get into that punk rock scene.”

On his childhood in the Bronx:

“You’ve gotta understand something. In the 60s and 70s, there was devastation all around on just a basic level in the Bronx at the time – abandoned buildings, fires, drugs, gangs. But it was a different atmosphere because there was more of a family unity, more of a community-based unity.”

On his father’s best friend, Latin music legend Tito Puente:

“Tito Puente, it’s just amazing that he was such a huge star and just an ordinary person. No bodyguards, no nothing. He’d walk down the street, sign autographs, kiss babies, pose for pictures. Unlike these Latin stars today where you can’t get 100 feet next to them because they have ten bodyguards.”

On his attempts at rumor-mongering:

“I’ve been starting a rumor that Barry Obama, who was in Columbia University at the time, used to go to Harlem World to see the Cold Crush.”

To hear the whole interview, click here or listen below.

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Written by Shawn Setaro

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