5 Questions with Mike Schreiber , author of True Hip-Hop

 

WHAT INSPIRED THIS BOOK?

I HAD A SHOW OF MY WORK (KIND OF LIKE A RETROSPECTIVE) IN 2009, AND PEOPLE SEEMED TO REALLY LIKE THE STORIES I TOLD ABOUT DIFFERENT PICTURES AND THE CURATOR, ALEX EMMART FROM MIGHTY TANAKA GALLERY, SUGGESTED THAT I PUT IT ALL IN A BOOK. SO I DID.

WHICH PICTURE MEANT THE MOST TO YOU?

THERE ISN'T ONE PICTURE THAT MEANS THE MOST TO ME, BUT I DO HAVE PARTICULAR FAVORITES. THE MOS DEF PICTURE IS SPECIAL BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST ONE THAT I TOOK THAT I KNEW WAS SPECIAL. AND THE PHOTO OF VOLETTA WALLACE (BIGGIE'S MOM) IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PORTRAITS... AND M.I.A. ON THE BOOMBOX.


WHO'S THE MOST INTERESTING HIP HOP ARTIST YOU'VE MET?

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ONE THAT'S MOST INTERESTING. I JUST LIKE MEETING NEW PEOPLE. I GO INTO EVERY SHOOT WITH AN OPEN MIND AND A CURIOSITY AND DESIRE TO FIND SOMETHING INTERESTING IN EVERYONE I SHOOT. M.I.A., DAVID BANNER, MAINO, DMX, C-MURDER, THEY ALL HAVE INTERESTING STORIES.

WHO IS THE MOST PHOTOGENIC HIP HOP ARTIST?

DEFINITELY M.I.A... AND THE LADIES SEEM TO LIKE MOS DEF.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

RIGHT NOW I'M DOING SHOWS TO SUPPORT THE BOOK AND GET THE GOSPEL OF MIKE SCHREIBER OUT INTO THE WORLD.I'VE GOT SOME IDEAS FOR PROJECTS THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE MATERIALIZE, BUT THEY'RE ALL TOP SECRET AS OF NOW. AS FAR AS MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY, THAT'S UP TO THE PHOTO EDITORS AND ART DIRECTORS. I CAN'T WORK WITHOUT THEM HIRING ME.