“These are the best images we have that document
the golden age of our culture.” 
— Big Boy

“Rhyme & Reason is one of the few films that was there to document us
before Hip Hop truly exploded. ” — Ice-T

In the mid-1990s, documentary filmmaker Peter Spirer embarked on a three-year odyssey to create a realistic portrait of hip hop, interviewing over 80 artists. Spirer captured a seminal moment as the culture balanced on the cusp of the mainstream. As Ice-T comments in the introduction to the book, "Rhyme & Reason is one of the few films that was there to document us before hip hop truly exploded."

While filming, Spirer took stills using a medium-format Rolleiflex camera. These photographs form The Book of Rhyme & Reason. Spirer writes: "The Rollei allowed me to capture some amazing moments: Biggie opening record plaques on his couch, Ice-T and Mack 10 hanging with their homies, Heavy D at the barber, playing pool. There was the Jack The Rapper convention with Death Row making a statement, at a Disney World Hotel, that ended in chaos. There were magical moments such as Redman and Erick Sermon freestyling on the mic to amazed onlookers at a block party in Newark and watching Wu-Tang Clan chop it up on the block in Staten Island on a cold winter’s day before they exploded."

This coffee-table volume features over 130 of Spirer’s photographs from 1994 to 1997. As hip hop commemorates its 50th anniversary in 2023, it is particularly fitting that many of these images from this formative period are being published for the first time.

“RHYME & REASON” Exhibition

Exhibition at the Motion Picture Academy Museum November 27, 2023
Organized by the Motion Picture Academy Museum

PETER SPIRER: FILMMAKER/PHOTOGRAPHER
Photographs of Hip Hop Culture 1994-1997

Filmed between 1994 and 1997, Rhyme & Reason captures a critical period in the history of rap music and hip-hop culture. Academy Award–nominated documentary filmmaker Peter Spirer used his connections as a music video director to get access to pioneers such as Grandmaster Caz, KRS-One, Kurtis Blow, and Biz Markie; rap icons Ice-T, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., and Dr. Dre; as well as RZA, Method Man, and Raekwon during the Wu-Tang Clan’s rise to fame,  to share firsthand accounts of the evolution of their artform from its early beginnings in the Bronx to becoming accepted by mainstream culture. Recently selected by Rolling Stone as one of the 70 greatest music documentaries, Rhyme & Reason remains an important piece of hip-hop history. This coffee-table hardcover book features over 130 of Spirer’s photographs from 1994 to 1997. As hip-hop commemorates its 50th anniversary in 2023, it is particularly fitting that many of these images from this formative period are being published for the first time.

The exhibition is available in a variety of sizes and formats, framed or larger mounted prints and
large banners to fit many different size exhibition spaces. Text panels are provided.
Peter Spirer also available to present a 30 minute slide lecture on the subject.
For booking information please contact:
Photographic Traveling Exhibitions
info@p-t-e.org
Tel: 310/ 397-3098

EXHIBITION CONTENTS: 130 works in total plus memorabilia
SPACE REQUIREMENTS: 250-300 running feet
DATES AVAILABLE: May, 2024 - 2026
LOAN FEE: Upon request
INSURANCE:  Exhibitor responsible 
SHIPPING:  Exhibitor responsible 
REQUIREMENTS:  Appropriate security, environmental controls

Peter Spirer is an Academy Award– and Emmy Award–nominated director and producer. His catalog of over 32 films includes Rhyme & Reason (1997), Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel, Life of an Outlaw (2002), the BEEF series (2003–5), Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than Life (2007) and The Legend of 420 (2017).