Explore Black History

1986

A black and white photograph of Lyor Cohen, Andre Harrell, Percy Sutton, Jam Master Jay outside the Apollo Theater.
The four are standing in front of a marquee. There is a neon sign that reads [APOLLO]. The lights are not on. Below, black letters were placed on the marquee. They read [RUSH PRODUCTIONS WBLS 107.5 / PRESENTS / DEF JAM SERIES]. There are rows of light bulbs underneath the sign. There is a no parking sign on the proper right side.
Lyor Cohen is on the proper right side. He has curly hair, a dark colored shirt, and a dark suit jacket. Andre Harrell is to his left. He is wearing large round glasses, a striped shirt, a tie, a vest, and a dark suit jacket. Percy Sutton is to his left. He is balding and has a goatee. He is wearing a white collared shirt and a dark suit jacket. He is wearing a dark tie with thin white diagonal lines. The tie is safety-pinned to the collar. Jam Master Jay is to his left. His right hand is on Percy's shoulder. He is wearing a black hat and a black jacket. The jacket has pockets on either side. The word [JAY] is stitched vertically on the proper right side of the jacket. There is an image on the proper left side that appears to be a perfume bottle. He has a goatee and long sideburns.
The photographer's signature is in black ink under the image on the proper left side. Inscriptions on the back, handwritten by Bill Adler, identify the photographer, subjects, date, and location.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Eyejammie Hip-Hop Photography Collection

Photographs and Still Images

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2015.132.170

gelatin silver prints

© Kwame Brathwaite
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper

H x W (Sheet): 10 13/16 × 14 in. (27.4 × 35.6 cm)
H x W (Image): 9 1/2 × 13 9/16 in. (24.1 × 34.5 cm)

Object Name • Photographic print of Lyor Cohen, Andre Harrell, Percy Sutton, Jam Master Jay

nmaahc_2015.132.170

NMAAHC

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT OF LYOR COHEN, ANDRE HARRELL, PERCY SUTTON, JAM MASTER JAY

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1980s

Apollo Theater • Def Jam Recordings • Jam Master Jay • 107.5 FM (WBLS) • Rush Communications • Brathwaite, Kwame • Cohen, Lyor • Sutton, Percy Ellis • Harrell, Andre

New York City • Harlem • United States • North and Central America

Photography • Hip-hop (Music) • Radio • Business

Locale • Harlem • City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America

Electronic resource • Images

Limited Use