Danny Hastings

THE SMOKE STREAMS FROM A CONTEMPLATIVE NAS ON THE REVERSE OF I AM...SHOT BY DANNY HASTINGS

Considered one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time, Nas had two critically-acclaimed albums under his belt before he released I Am...with a cover look shot by Danny Hastings straight out of antiquity. On the album's reverse, a more subdued yet nonetheless classic shot of Nas in profile, captured like a film noir star with smoke streaming from his lips, completed the visual effect of I Am.... The young boy who started recording demos for Large Professor has now become a man, and in turn, became a king, setting the gold standard for lyricists who would follow. 

I Am...would go on to sell almost half a million copies during the first week of its release and debuted at number 1 on the Billboard chart. The current lot, shot by Hastings and signed by Nas himself, shows the more contemplative and private side of the artist who has since gained worldwide recognition and fame for his musical output. In 2019, Hastings collaborated with Substance Art Collective and curated a series of limited edition signed prints & art exhibitions that featured some of Hastings' classic album covers and nostalgic images from over the decades. 

The iconic "SMOKE" image represented in the current lot was revisited from deep within the archives in celebration of the 20th anniversary of "I Am...". The current edition was hand-signed by Nas & Hastings and made its debut during Hastings' solo exhibit "GOLDEN ERA" at Regime Contemporary Gallery in Los Angeles in October of 2019. 

A creative dynamo and entrepreneur, Danny Hastings has photographed over 150 album covers and directed over 40 music videos working alongside artists as diverse as Nas, Taylor Momsen, Marc Anthony, Jodeci, Wu-Tang Clan, Eminem, Prince Royce, KRS-One, Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest and Jeru the Damaja.

Hastings has also made an impact in the world of advertising by directing and producing branded content for companies like NASCAR, Sprint, Colgate, Unilever, Samsung, MTV, DraftKings, Nike, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and VIACOM. In 2015, Hastings founded the annual Official Latino Film Festival to provide opportunities to Latinx filmmakers and actors in the U.S. due to the lack of representation of his community in film and TV. He currently holds the position of Artist in Residency for Nahrep, the biggest Latino organization in the U.S.

Most recently he directed two music videos for RZA released in 2022. These recent productions come full circle to solidify the longevity of his career in Hip Hop music and his long standing relationship he has cultivated through the years with its pioneers.

Provenance:

Courtesy of the photographer

Condition Report:

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