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Nothing this good could last forever.
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, but with hip-hop that’s a serious understatement. Contact High explores four decades of iconic photography from the late 1970s to today, documenting a revolution not just in music but in politics, race relations, fashion, and culture.
Through more than 170 images of its most influential artists—Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, and Queen Latifah just for starters—Contact High celebrates hip-hop's evolution, connecting us with the peak experiences, personalities, and places that have shaped the world’s most popular music genre.
After two incredible years, Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop is heading into its final weeks at MoPOP. Don’t miss your chance to check out this wildly popular exhibition before it closes forever on January 7th, 2024.
THIS EXHIBITION IS NOW CLOSED
Nothing this good could last forever.
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, but with hip-hop that’s a serious understatement.
Contact High explores four decades of iconic photography from the late 1970s to today, documenting a revolution not just in music but in politics, race relations, fashion, and culture. Through more than 170 images of its most influential artists—Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, and Queen Latifah just for starters—Contact High celebrates hip-hop's evolution, connecting us with the peak experiences, personalities, and places that have shaped the world’s most popular music genre.
After two incredible years, Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop is heading into its final weeks at MoPOP. Don’t miss your chance to check out this wildly popular exhibition before it closes forever on January 7th, 2024.
Plan ahead and save big on your tickets.
Exhibition Details
Aaliyah? Wu-Tang Clan? Sir Mix-A-Lot? We’ve got their greatest fashion, style, and branding triumphs right here. And it doesn’t stop with photographs: Contact High is jam-packed with 80s rap battle flyers; handwritten Tupac Shakur manuscripts; costumes from Sha-Rock, The Notorious B.I.G., and MF DOOM; and exclusive photo session contact sheets giving you a behind-the-scenes peek at the artistry, skill, and joy that went into creating and capturing some of music’s most legendary moments.
Exhibition made possible by the Annenberg Space for Photography + International Center of Photography. Curator Vikki Tobak, Creative Director Fab 5 Freddy. Based on the Book CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History of Hip-Hop by Vikki Tobak.
Become a MoPOP Member Today and You Get
• FREE access to Contact High and your other favorite exhibitions again and again for the entire year of your membership
• First dibs on tickets for exhibition closing parties and other events
• Discounts on merch and hip-hop memorabilia at the MoPOP Store
• All the good feelings for supporting the preservation and celebration of pop culture history
Buy the Book
Can't make it to the exhibit? Purchase the book that inspired it — CONTACT HIGH: A History of Hip-Hop by Vikki Tobak. Physical copies will also be available for purchase at the exhibition closing party.
Fab 5 Freddy's Playlist
To ready yourself for an intimate glimpse into hip-hop's history, check out this playlist curated by Contact High’s creative director, hip-hop pioneer, and the original host of Yo! MTV Raps, Fab 5 Freddy.
Exhibition made possible by the Annenberg Space for Photography + International Center of Photography.
Curator Vikki Tobak, Creative Director Fab 5 Freddy. Based on the Book CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History of Hip-Hop by Vikki Tobak.
Exhibition made possible by
This project was supported, in part, by 4Culture/King County Lodging Tax
