Lifestyle & Culture Immortalized
I began photographically documenting grillz at hip-hop festivals in 2014.
While speaking with my photo subjects, I started to learn the difference in oral jewelry practices among regions. For example, in New Orleans, most people remove their teeth and install permanent gold or diamond teeth in their place. In New York, many wear gold caps; this comes from West Indian and Central American cultures. In Texas, most people get two-toned grillz, opposed to Atlanta, where most get a full mouth of 22 karat gold grillz.
For this series, I dissected and photographically documented the correlation between the wearing of grillz, gold caps and tooth replacements to the ratio of dental insurance coverage and hygiene in the Black community. In my research, I discovered that a majority of the inner-city Black population either did not have dental insurance or were underinsured. The lack of adequate access in combination with poor dental hygiene causes teeth to rot rapidly. Consequently, poor dental health has immense effects on overall health. However, many people wear oral jewelry as a means of protecting damaged, unhealthy, or lost teeth.
The “Art of Grillz“ was my master thesis for Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, is installed in Columbia University’s medical library, and is a traveling exhibit.
Profiling Hip-Hop is a series that documents hip-hop artists' physical profiles prior to hitting the stage for a performance.
Hip-Hop is the most profiled musical genre to date, so much so that there is a sector of police dedicated to monitoring the moves of artists and affiliates. The genre has become so profiled, that it is often associated with only negative connotations, by outsiders. I turned my camera to profile artists in a positive way.
"Inner City Huez" is a deeply personal project that explores the intersection of art, humanity, and community in the context of gang culture in Brooklyn. Raised in the 'Grimey 90'z' section of the borough, I witnessed firsthand the impact of gang culture on individuals and communities.
In this series, I document formerly active gang members who have since transformed their lives, becoming active artists and community activists. Through their portraits, I aim to showcase the beauty, pain, and fraternity of their experiences, highlighting the complexity and authenticity of their stories.
The title "Inner City Huez" is a tribute to Marvin Gaye's iconic song "Inner City Blues," which speaks to the challenges and realities of urban life. By capturing these individuals' truths, I hope to challenge stereotypes and encourage viewers to see beyond the stoicism and labels often assigned to gang members.
As part of this project, I am creating a deck of playing cards with red and blue velvet paisley backs and gold-trimmed sides. Playing cards are a familiar form of entertainment in Black neighborhoods and jails, and I aim to reclaim this symbol by using it to showcase the resilience and creativity of my community.
"Inner City Huez" is an ongoing project, and I continue to document and celebrate the stories of those who have found redemption and purpose beyond their pasts.
The beauty of black femininity in intimate spaces.
Most Black women use silk or satin in some capacity in their beauty routine. Usually in the form of a bonnet, scarf or pillow case. To prevent the issues with my bonnet slipping off at night, I started buying only silk/satin sheet sets. This inspired me to shoot Black women on different color silks and show variable forms of their femininity.
A look at artists in performance, views from the photo pit.
Images documented at my studio, JAH Art House, located in BedStuy, Brooklyn.
The studio space is available for booking here:
