Photographic print of Lyor Cohen, Andre Harrell, Percy Sutton, Jam Master Jay: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black and white photograph of Lyor Cohen, Andre Harrell, Percy Sutton, Jam Master Jay outside the Apollo Theater.

The four are standing in front of a marquee. There is a neon sign that reads [APOLLO]. The lights are not on. Below, black letters were placed on the marquee. They read [RUSH PRODUCTIONS WBLS 107.5 / PRESENTS / DEF JAM SERIES]. There are rows of light bulbs underneath the sign. There is a no parking sign on the proper right side.

Lyor Cohen is on the proper right side. He has curly hair, a dark colored shirt, and a dark suit jacket. Andre Harrell is to his left. He is wearing large round glasses, a striped shirt, a tie, a vest, and a dark suit jacket. Percy Sutton is to his left. He is balding and has a goatee. He is wearing a white collared shirt and a dark suit jacket. He is wearing a dark tie with thin white diagonal lines. The tie is safety-pinned to the collar. Jam Master Jay is to his left. His right hand is on Percy's shoulder. He is wearing a black hat and a black jacket. The jacket has pockets on either side. The word [JAY] is stitched vertically on the proper right side of the jacket. There is an image on the proper left side that appears to be a perfume bottle. He has a goatee and long sideburns.

The photographer's signature is in black ink under the image on the proper left side. Inscriptions on the back, handwritten by Bill Adler, identify the photographer, subjects, date, and location.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1986
• Photograph by: Kwame Brathwaite, American, 1938 - 2023
• Subject of: Lyor Cohen, Israeli American, born 1959
• Subject of: Andre Harrell, American, born 1960
• Subject of: Percy Ellis Sutton, American, 1920 - 2009
• Subject of: Jam Master Jay, American, 1965 - 2002
• Subject of: Apollo Theater, American, founded 1934
• Subject of: Def Jam Recordings, American, founded 1984
• Subject of: 107.5 FM (WBLS), American, founded 1951
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 10 13/16 × 14 in. (27.4 × 35.6 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 9 1/2 × 13 9/16 in. (24.1 × 34.5 cm)
• Place captured: Harlem, New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Business
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Musicians
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Radio
• Object number: 2015.132.170
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © Kwame Brathwaite Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.