The Rebel Cultures Playlist
- Text by HUCK HQ
- Photography by Janette Beckman
Growing up in London during the birth of punk, photographer Janette Beckman shot some of the most influential characters of the era: from Sex Pistols and The Clash to Blondie and Boy George. Not that she had any idea how big they would become back then, mind you.
When hip hop came along in the early 1980s she rode the renaissance to New York and seamlessly became its visual guardian, shooting everyone from Run DMC and Public Enemy to LL Cool J and Eric B. & Rakim.
In this playlist we collect videos from the punk and hip hop artists Janette shot in their early years. Grab a copy of Huck 48 – The Origins Issue to read more about her incredible story.
Blondie
DJ Kool Herc may be the father of hip hop, but Debbie Harry rapping on ‘The Rapture’ put the fledgling scene on mainstream America’s radar for the first time.
Shane Macgowan, The Pogues
Shane Macgowan, frontman of Celtic punk band The Pogues appears in a typically-inebriated state on Dutch TV.
Run-DMC
Run-DMC’s collaboration with Aerosmith on ‘Walk This Way’ is one of the best music videos of all time. Period.
The Sex Pistols
The UK’s favourite safety-pinned philosophers cause drunken havoc on stale ’70s British TV.
Ultramagnetic MCs
The Bronx’s Ultramagnetic MCs are the cover stars for Huck’s Origins Issue, in a classic shot from Janette Beckman.
Joe Strummer, The Clash
Julien Temple’s 2007 documentary The Future Is Unwritten explores the Clash’s enigmatic frontman.
UTFO
Brooklyn’s UTFO (short for Untouchable Force Organization) were all over the ’80s rap game.
Dr Dre
MTV Raw uncovers a selection of early Dr Dre interviews from his NWA days.
Read the full article on Janette Beckman’s Rebel Cultures in Huck 48 – The Origins Issue.
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Written by: Cyna Mirzai
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Weirdo — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, multi-instrumentalist and Brownswood affiliate Emma-Jean Thackray.
Written by: Emma-Jean Thackray
Meet the shop cats of Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan district
Feline good — Traditionally adopted to keep away rats from expensive produce, the feline guardians have become part of the central neighbourhood’s fabric. Erica’s online series captures the local celebrities.
Written by: Isaac Muk
How trans rights activism and sex workers’ solidarity emerged in the ’70s and ’80s
Shoulder to Shoulder — In this extract from writer Jake Hall’s new book, which deep dives into the history of queer activism and coalition, they explore how anti-TERF and anti-SWERF campaigning developed from the same cloth.
Written by: Jake Hall
A behind the scenes look at the atomic wedgie community
Stretched out — Benjamin Fredrickson’s new project and photobook ‘Wedgies’ queers a time-old bullying act by exploring its erotic, extreme potential.
Written by: Isaac Muk