Danny Hastings

WU-TANG'S OWN MC GHOSTFACE KILLAH AND HIS SINGULAR STYLE CAPTURED IN A PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED PORTRAIT BY DANNY HASTINGS

With his outrageously luxe jewelry, painterly rhyme flow and compulsive, imaginative story-telling, Ghostface Killah is a stylish force to be reckoned with. As a member and MC for the Wu-Tang Clan, Ghostface's own face remained a mystery until it was revealed on the album of fellow Clan member, Raekwon, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. In the current lot, Ghostface is captured by photographer Danny Hastings in a previously unpublished photograph from the original shoot for his album, Big Doe Rehab.

With his powerful stance and unrevealed stare behind his signature ski mask, Ghostface draws the viewer in with his over-the-top gold chain and diamond-encrusted jewelry, completing the look swathed in a velvet robe. It's pure Ghostface: mysterious and luxurious, slightly sinister and compelling, and constantly informing the audience that there is more to him than meets the eye. The current lot was produced in a limited edition series by Hastings in honor of the 15th anniversary Big Doe Rehab, and is the first time one of the prints have been available to the public.

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:

To request a condition report for this lot, please contact pop@sotheby