UNRELEASED

Exhibition overview

UNRELEASED is a photographic project by Nicola Antonazzo offering an intimate and unexpected perspective on Hip Hop icons. Created by a photographer who grew up far from Hip Hop’s birthplace, the series reveals personal, behind-the-scenes moments rarely accessible to the public. The project presents never-before-seen images of some of the genre’s most influential figures, reframing cultural legends through an outsider’s lens.

After its successful debut in New York in March 2023, presented as part of the global celebrations for Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary, the exhibition has since been shown in San Francisco, Tokyo, and again in New York.

Artist Bio

Nicola Antonazzo is a Brooklyn-based documentary and portrait photographer whose work focuses on authenticity and intimate human moments. His photographs are represented and sold by Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York and Los Angeles, and have appeared in publications such as The Guardian, Billboard, and The Independent. Nicola’s work has also been exhibited at the De Young Museum in San Francisco.

Exhibition Format

The exhibition features a curated selection of photographs shot on both film and digital formats and printed on museum-grade archival paper. To accommodate a wide variety of gallery types and spatial configurations, the number of prints, and their final dimensions, can be tailored to the host venue’s layout, curatorial vision, or budget.

The images below offer a representative preview of the works included in the series.

Dave, DeLa Soul

Posdnuos, De La Soul

Questlove, The Roots

Eric B & Rakim

Dave Chappelle

DMX

Roy Ayers

Mulatu Astatke

Joe Bataan

Hieroglyphics

EPMD

Joe Bataan

KRS-One

LL Cool J

D.H. Peligro, Dead Kennedys

Theon Cross

Lee Fields

Engagement & Visibility

UNRELEASED has demonstrated strong public interest and audience engagement. Recent exhibitions have generated:

- 25,000+ ad impressions through targeted digital promotion
- 280 new followers during the promotional period
- 200 attendees at the most recent opening night
- $4,000 in revenue from work purchased

These results reflect a growing, enthusiastic audience for the project and a strong foundation for continued visibility and attendance as the exhibition travels.