Ricky Powell Interview
THE LAZY HUSTLER
Words : Nick Santora | Photographs : Ricky Powell
Some people think opportunity knocks , while others know it can only answer the door . Sitting back , waiting for things to happen won ’ t get you far , and those who acknowledge this are able to take destiny into their own hands . In the case of Ricky Powell , that moment came when he decided to become the Beastie Boys photographer on their 1986 License To Ill tour .
From that day forward , he was part of the band ’ s inner-circle , giving fans inside access to its escapades through the lens of his camera . Through his photographs we ’ re blessed with unscripted snapshots in time with the most influential artists of a generation , ranging from Run DMC to Andy Warhol .
His ability to effortlessly insert himself into any situation lead to his public access program , Rappin ’ With The Rickster , as well as written contributions to the trailblazing Grand Royal magazine . If you wanted to know which NBA players were high on reefer , or which washed-up 80s sitcom actor who was rumored to be starring in The Man That Pussy Forgot , Ricky always delivered with humor and individuality .
These days , Ricky connects with his fans through speaking engagements and social media outlets . You might see him giving a slide-show presentation in Sweden , or perhaps you already follow his late-night kookstrolls through Greenwich Village on Instagram . For whatever it ’ s worth , this interview goes down in history as one of my favorites .
Ricky Powell : I was a lazy playground rat all my life . I had no idea I was going into journalism , to use a broad name . When I was 21 , I met some artsy chick . She had a camera , film , paint , all that shit , and we would go around . Sometimes I would try her camera . It was just a natural thing . Then the chick dissed me for a dude in tie-dyed yoga pants in the spring of 1985 . It was demeaning , dude . I was pulverized .
Later on , I found this bag of her shit . There were some clothes and a little Minolta auto-jammy . I took it out of the bag and said , “ I ’ m gonna make this beeotch sorry that she played me like a soggy cannoli .” Then I started taking the camera out with me .
In September of ’ 85 , the Beasties were playing
© Nick Santora
104 | Classic Kicks | classickicks . com | Volume 1