Chi Modu, a photographer who documented the brightest stars of the golden age of hip-hop, from the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur to LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg and Nas, has died. Modu was 54.
The celebrated photographer’s death was announced Saturday in messages posted to his social media accounts. “Our hearts are broken,” the post read, asking for privacy for his family. “We continue the fight.” The statement did not give a cause of death. Modu was born in Nigeria and grew up in New Jersey. He was an alumnus of the Lawrenceville School in Lawrence Township and Rutgers University, where he studied economics and discovered his love for photography before pursuing photojournalism at the International Center of Photography in New York.
Our hearts are broken… We continue the fight ©💪🏾
The family request privacy at this time 📷 pic.twitter.com/zaPXgvgdcm
— chi modu (@chimodu) May 22, 2021
RIP Chi Modu
Chi was among Hip Hop's most prolific & in demand photographers.
Just a few of his most iconic shots. pic.twitter.com/h3kWe0oNTh
— Ruben || Check the Rhyme (@checktherhyme1_) May 22, 2021
