"More than 30 years after Hip Hop culture emerged from the ghettos of New York City and became a multi-billion-dollar global phenomenon that still rages today, these photos by Sophie Bramly are unparalleled and among the most important images of Hip Hop’s coming-out party.  Like photos of a newborn baby just home from the hospital, no one was looking this closely through a camera lens and capturing so many of this new culture’s pivotal players in such candid and intimate moments.

“Sophie’s warm and fun-loving personality broke down all barriers as these young artists opened their arms and the doors of their homes to Sophie and her camera."

 -- Fab 5 Freddy, from the introduction to “Walk This Way”

Below, from left to right: A/ Fab5 Freddy and the Cold Crush Brothers, B/ Bambaataa, Jazzy Jay, Herbie Hancock and Red Alert, C/ DMC and Kool Herc, D/ Harry Belafonte learning Electric Boogie with Magnificient Force, E/ Grand Master Flash, F/ Futura in the subway, G/ Slick Rick, Grand Master Dee (Whodini) and Ahmad (Shango and TimeZone).

Carrousel: Afrika Islam, D.St., Bambaataa and Shango, Herbie Hancock with Bernard Fowler, D.St and robot, Patti Astor at Fun Galery, Rahiem (Furious Five) at home, Crowd at Bronx River Center ... and not necessarily in that order !