Allow me to re-introduce myself; my name is Bone! B.O.N.E., but you can call me Zire. I’m a photographer. I was born in Harlem Village, raised in the Boogie Down Bronx, and rested in QU, with deep family roots from the planet Brooklyn.

I grew up with Hip-Hop. It was a year older than me and became an influential way of living in my life. Hip-Hop was a way of life for me. It was all I knew. As a toddler, I was introduced to Hip Hop while riding in my stroller, often hopping out and running around block parties hosted by soon-to-be-legendary DJs such as Kool Herc, Flash, Red Alert, and many others.

Some of my first LP purchases included titles like The Show by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, Rappin Duke, Mr. Magic, and Chubb Rock. I later became a B-Boy and Boogie Artist - battlin’, breakin’, poppin’, and lockin’ in school talent shows, school yards, building hallways, etc.  I attended school in the Bronx with some of Hip-Hop's greatest graffiti artists. 

My Hip Hop favorites are Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, KRS, Rakim, and Rick the Ruler. They are my forefathers of Hip-Hop.

Hip-Hop is in my blood! If you listen to my heart, you may hear the beat from Whodini's Five Minutes of Funk. Today, I am a visual storyteller celebrating hip-hop and the people who keep it official. Salute to the Hip Hop World!!!

What Is Hip-Hop?

I’ve asked this question to dozens of artists and hip-hop enthusiasts. The answer is never the same. Allow me to take you on a visual journey through the last 50 years of hip-hop's evolution, showcasing the nine essential elements that have shaped this cultural movement. From its humble beginnings in the Bronx to its global domination, we'll explore how hip-hop has grown, adapted, and influenced generations of artists and fans alike.

HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY HIP-HOP!!!