Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1956) – Frank Sinatra

Elvis Presley (1956) - Elvis Presley

Kind of Blue (1959) - Miles Davis

A Love Supreme (1964) - John Coltrane

The Temptations Sing Smokey (1965) – The Temptations

Rubber Soul (1965) – The Beatles

The Doors (1967) – The Doors

Are You Experienced? (1967) – Jimi Hendrix

Stand! (1969) – Sly & The Family Stone

Led Zeppelin II (1969) – Led Zeppelin

Exile on Main St (1972) – The Rolling Stones

Talking Book (1972) – Stevie Wonder

Transformer (1972)- Lou Reed

Call Me (1973) – Al Green

Aladdin Sane (1973) - David Bowie

Let’s Get It On (1973) – Marvin Gaye

One Nation Under a Groove (1978) - Funkadelic

Off the Wall (1979) – Michael Jackson

Dirty Mind (1980) – Prince

Street Songs (1981) - Rick James

Duran Duran (1981) – Duran Duran

Raising Hell (1986) – Run-D.M.C.

The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988) – Slick Rick

20 All-Time Greatest Hits! (1991) – James Brown

Life After Death (1997) – The Notorious B.I.G.

Stankonia (2000) - Outkast

Is This It? (2001) - The Strokes

The Blueprint (2001) – Jay-Z

Vampire Weekend (2008) - Vampire Weekend

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) - Kanye West

1. Salt-N-Pepa

Now let’s talk about these ladies. You were not fly girl in the late 80′s and early 90′s if you didn’t model your style after Salt-N-Pepa. They completely revolutionized music by proving they were just as good as male MCs and could look damn good doing it. Not being afraid to embrace their sexuality, they paved the way for artist such as Nicki Minaj. (See below)

2. Outkast (Andre 3000)

Andre 3000 has 2 distinct styles: urban dandy & funk soul brother. He always look amazing regardless whatever he decides on. With a mix of his fashion sense and interesting flow he’s created some visually exciting videos.

3. Missy Elliot

Missy is all about a stunt and a show. Let’s be honest, that blowup jumpsuit was brilliant.

4. MC Hammer

I personally blame this man for the question that plagues me every day: Should I buy harem pants?

5. Nicki Minaj

Ms. Minaj is a modern day hip hop Barbie. She’s completely fearless when it comes to her appearance. (I can personally attest to that) She might be one of the only rappers who can wear a Dior haute couture dress and make it look bad ass and uber sexy.

6. Sean Combs (Diddy, P.Diddy, Puff Daddy)

Now whatever name he goes by the man still has unlimited swag. My favorite incarnation of this mogul was in his 90′s Puff Daddy phase when he was dancing around in shiny suits. (My mother refused to buy me one)

7. Run DMC

If anyone could make white Adidas and gold rope chains chic it would be these guys. Not only are they hip hop legends but  they will always be considered fashion icons.

8. Kanye West

It would be blasphemy if I didn’t include Kanye in this post. (Wouldn’t want him pulling another VMA style incident) Kanye went from super preppy, to super dandy, and now mega fashionisto. Whether he’s wearing designer sneakers or womens blouses you will notice him.

9. Cee Lo Green

If you don’t like Cee Lo’s style then he will probably give a big ” Eff You.” His costumes are truly wild. How many guys do you know can dress up like a bird from the muppets and still look cool?

10. The Fresh Prince (Will Smith)

Modern pop culture might tell you that Jaden & Willow Smith are coolest kids in town. This is true but people must remember that being cool is in their DNA. Before Will Smith was their daddy he was rocking the mic with is dope Philly style.

1. Madonna – Blond Ambition Tour (1990)

Always lauded, and at times harshly criticized, for her chameleon-like reinventions, she is nevertheless the artist who most brilliantly illustrates — and has done the most to encourage — the symbiotic relationship between music and fashion. Madge reached her sartorial high point during her wildly successful Blond Ambition Tour, featuring costumes by Jean Paul Gaultier who designed the now legendary cone bra.

2. Michael Jackson – “Beat It” music video (1983)

Perhaps the most iconic single article of clothing in pop music history, MJ’s red leather jacket was a cultural watershed moment because it became almost synonymous with Thriller, i.e. the biggest album of all time. The ankle-baring trousers — a nod to Fred Astaire – white socks and black shoes were also trademarks of the 80s and still loom large over the singer’s incredible legacy.

3. The Beatles - The  Ed Sullivan Show (1964)

When the Beatles invaded America, they brought along with them enduring and generation-defining trends such as the Beatle boot, collarless suits and the mop top — not to mention hysteria the likes of which Justin Bieber could only dream.

4. David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust Tour (1973-74)

Without Ziggy, Elton John would never have discovered his love of feathered headdresses, LaBelle wouldn’t have strutted around New Orleans in their silver lamé and simply put, there would be no Lady Gaga. A high-concept album with a high-concept look, David Bowie introduced androgyny to the pop culture masses, and decades later his seminal faux rocker is still a fashion favorite.

5. Diana Ross and the Supremes – “Come See About Me” on The Ed Sullivan Show (1964)

Three black girls from Detroit became the epitome of style, grace, beauty and glamor in the midst of social upheaval and racial injustice. Oprah said it best (as she does with everything): it was life-changing.

6. Ramones – Ramones (1976)

While the Beatles inspired bands to dress up, the Ramones’ relaxed, almost comalike coolness influenced other bands to keep it simple — years later their pared down style still feels like quintessential New York. Especially with all the hipsters dragging their Converses, skinny jeans and leather jackets around.

7. George Michael – “Freedom! ’90″ video (1990)

George Michael’s identity crisis led to the zenith of the supermodel explosion. Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Tatjana Patitz took the place of the singer — reluctant to appear in his own video — and  lip-synched their way to iconic status in the clip directed by future friend of Facebook, David Fincher.

8. Nirvana -  “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video (1991)

Marc Jacobs‘ landmark Grunge collection for Perry Ellis in 1992 may have led to his dismissal, but it also cemented the enormous cultural impact Kurt Cobain and Nirvana had inadvertently etched out for themselves thanks to the success of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Till this day the sight of plaid inspires those famous first notes and the image of zombie cheerleaders dancing through my head.

9. Run-D.M.C. – “My Adidas” (1986)

Hip hop has long been obsessed with fashion and material goods, but we wouldn’t have Kanye “The Louis Vuitton Don” West rapping about haute couture if we didn’t have Run D.M.C. extolling the virtues of their shell tops.

10. Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance” music video (2010)

Gaga went from popstar to phenomenon on the heels of her Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes. The video stands as an homage not only to McQueen and his legacy, but to the woman most responsible for Gaga’s amazing aptitude for reinvention: Madonna. And she’s been paying homage ever since.

1. Michael Jackson: Even more so now, MJ was always known for his crazy fashion sense, and sparked trends all around the world, from military blazers to one glove.

2. Buddy Holly: Huge among the hip crowd right now, 50s and ‘nerdy’ styles are back, or never really left. Ray Bans and skinny ties, win.

3. David Bowie: Glam rockers unite for the man in the makeup.

4. Justin Timberlake: After he trimmed his curls, JT is almost always spotted in a dress vest and tie, keeping it casual with jeans but still looking undoubtably cool.

5. The Beatles: They not only influenced millions with their music, but also with their collared shirts and circle-shaped glasses.

6. Kriss Kross: I have no idea which marketing exec. told these kids to put their clothes on backwards (although I’m sure they probably came up with the idea themselves), but this was HUGE (just as huge as their clothes were on them…) 

7. Sid Vicious: Ah Sid and Nancy, every punk’s idol. (minus swastika shirts)

8. Andre 3000: My favorite style ever, Andre 3000 is always dressed to kill.

9. Run DMC: You can still find those chains in St. Marks. Adidas classics? Nice.

10. Pete Doherty: Aside from the drugs, it’s now cool to look like a homeless drug addict, apparently.

Who are your favorites?

Do ya wants da swagger o’ uh hood who just jacked da local jewelry shop? Do ya wants yo’ Tims ta match da glisten o’ da grills on yo’ teeth? Do ya wants ta peep like ya iz da long lost brudda o’ Run DMC? Well, dat’stoo damn bad muh ma brothers. Ghetto fabulous Timberlands iz not da way ta be rocking werk boots. In the hood. This shit is whack.

Thanks to muh brothers at Highsnobette and Da Ebonics Site! 

I met Ricky Powell last year shortly after moving to New York and had no clue who he was.

I guess I was never in the right scene to be super familiar with his work, but I can know respect him as a pioneer in his field.

Before hip-hop became mainstream and more or less a caricature of itself, street photographer Ricky Powell, was the independent. He was a major player in documenting the rise of hip-hop culture (think the mid-80s New York of Run DMC and the Beastie Boys). Powell still keeps busy shooting artists, events and ad campaigns, hosting a public access show, publishing photography books, and writing a column for Mass Appeal. He has done some collaborations with clothing companies like Converse, and has even been immortalized in the Beastie Boys song “Car Thief.”

Tomorrow night, the Rickster invites you to view his private work that chronicles decades of works. His Apt. A collection, which will run for the next two months, features Powell’s shots of legendary artists at a pivotal time in New York street culture.

Signed pieces will be available through SHQ.

Apt. A also marks the beginning of the Rick Powell World Tour 2009.