THE MACALLAN x MANNION

Jonathan is pleased to offer these four powerful prints to the Macallan Gallery. Each image tells a unique story, creating a room that embodies New York’s spirit of Hip-Hop and the voices that tell its story. Jonathan is delighted to join the Macallan family and their community to celebrate these iconic artists.

the definitive hip-hop photographer

Jonathan Mannion, a renowned portrait photographer in music and advertising, boasts a 30-year career with over 400 album covers for artists like Eminem, Run DMC, and Nas. Noteworthy campaigns include Beats by Dre's “Straight Outta _____”, Cadillac, NFL, and Moët & Chandon, along with editorial work for The Fader, Vibe Magazine, and Complex.

Mannion started as a studio assistant for Richard Avedon in 1993, and, similarly to Avedon, embraced a deep psychological connection with his subjects. It would be this influence above all, coupled with his love for Hip-Hop and popular culture, that would allow Mannion to create moments with these brilliant artists that would stand the test of time.

Through extensive research, Mannion creates conditions for talent to mentally embody their desired selves even before achieving these iconic images. A master of his craft, Mannion's images have defined legendary artists and cultural eras, and he continues to be sought after by groundbreaking talent today.

notorious b.i.g. - “palladium party” (New York, ny; 1995)

When I stop to think about my journey, this is always the photo that comes to mind as “the beginning” of my beautiful career as a professional photographer. This image was made at the Palladium night club on New York City’s 14th Street, a legendary celebration of the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to Die" album that had just sold one million copies. Dressed to impress, massive stars came out to support the undisputed king of NYC and witness performances by Faith, Junior Mafia, Lil' Kim, and Biggie on stage. 

This image, of all the images in my collection, gives a beautiful glimpse into the feeling of the moment. Energy was high, the crowd was packed in, the lyrics were being delivered passionately, it was classic mid-90s Hip-Hop happening in real time. Were you there?

big pun - “bx bomber” (Bronx, ny: 1999)

This image was from the Terror Squad album session, where I photographed each of the group members in solo shots and then as a group. If you know anything about Hip-Hop photo sessions, you know that they often don’t go as planned… this shoot was no exception. At the beginning of the day, one of the members of the group was “escorted” to another location by some gentlemen dressed in blue, which entirely changed the trajectory of the day. The whole creative direction quickly became about communication between the other members of the group to get their man out of a tricky situation. Rooted in this storytelling, this image was one of the puzzle pieces of connection, a phone call being made as a rallying cry to free up a member of the squad. 

Big Pun was one of the most humble and kind souls that I have met in this industry. He didn’t want to be fussed over or given special treatment based on his size. I love that this image shares vision and power in his gaze, accompanied by the generally pleasing composition. Undeniably rooted in the Bronx, his home soil, this remains a timeless image of one of the greatest MCs in the game.

dmx - “WHere my dogs at?” (new york, ny; 1997)

I had, and continue to have, a special bond with DMX. We understood each other. This image was made when the song “Where My Dogs At?” had just hit the airwaves in NYC. It was a rallying cry for those without a powerful voice of their own; the misunderstood, struggling, fighting, and surviving. All of the hits of the moment flaunted a flashy lifestyle - shiny suits, jewelry, cars, money - and DMX out of nowhere grounded the conversation. He showed that his “Tims" were planted firmly on the ground and that he walked powerfully in this world. He gave a loud voice to the people who couldn’t relate to the flash. He was the voice of the unheard. 

This photograph has become a timeless classic because it marked a point of departure for him. This was the beginning of the journey. Unbridled, unstoppable emotion and energy to deliver his beautiful message… the prayers for his people and the fire that burned within had to be set free.