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With his latest creation "Rap Pop and Soul Headshots"

The Intimate -close up headshots of 68 stars of music, art and beyond.
Including Latifah, 50 Cent, Andy Warhol, Ricky martin, The Dalai Lama, Sting, Blondie, Grandmasters Caz and Flash, Big, Tupac, Pavarotti, Faith Evans, Lyte, Aaliyah, Eazy E, Ice Cube, Snoop, Missy, Johnny Depp, Fat Joe, Big Pun, Q Tip, Mike Tyson, Paul Mooney, Afrika bambaataa, Bootsy Collins, Richie Havens, Shakira, Mya, Real Roxanne, Whitney Houston, Tito Puente, Kane, Kid Rock, Kid, Tracy Chapman, Erykah badu, L'il Kim, Foxy Brown, Mariah Carey, Lauren Hill and dozens of others..... It is clearly plain to see that Ernie Paniccioli, who has captured over four decades of culture and beyond, is truly a man on a mission. Recently my business partner-James "Koe" Rodriguez and I had the honor of chopping it up with this True Living Icon. meet the Legendary- Ernie Paniccioli.

by DJ Disco Wiz

You're arguably one of the first photographers to capture all facets of Hip-Hop culture. How'd that come about? -

Out of my energy, my mad desire to shoot everything going on around me, I hardly ever sleep and it seemed like the 70's and 80's were one big party a big exciting, creative explosion of music, art, graffiti and love, lots and lots of love and I was there in the mix, shooting, laughing, and partying

In addition to being a phenomenal photographer, you're universally known as an outspoken activist. When did activism come into play?

When did it start? When I was going to bed hungry as a kid and never having a long term roof over my head and seeing the distance between the rich and the poor in the richest country in the world. So when I got a little "fame" I used it to speak out against what I saw as injustice. And no it is not all about race, to me the Jay Z's, Puffies, Russell's and Jesses of the world have only done well for their damn selves.

Was there anyone who inspired your photography?

Edward S. Curtis who did all those amazing images of Native Americans showed me how to turn reality into dreams. and Salvador Dali who showed me how to turn dreams into reality.

When did you notice Hip-Hop becoming a real force? Was its growth more of an incentive to capture it?

Hip Hop may have gotten more press over the years, but has not lived up to it's potential to be a powerful, political force for real change and has gone from a voice for the voiceless to a voice for corporate pirates and political whores. Both jay Z and Puffy are pushing Vodka to young people and alcohol has killed more of us than guns, crack or war.

Being Native American and raised during the racially turbulent 50's & 60's, did you ever see a place for people of color in America?

I had hoped that by the time I reached my 50's we would have unified, and gotten a piece of the pie and that America would have become a place it too often bragged it already was. Yet as I travel this vast land I see gangs, joblessness, hopelessness and drugs. So I think we have gone backwards. And these clowns running for president now are fighting over crap like confederate flags and gay marriage and Mexicans are the new racial scapegoats.

Because you grew up impoverished, did that experience allow you to relate and co-exist with a culture birthed under similar conditions?

Yes 100% it was like family from the jump. Good question!

Did you ever think of the impact your images would have in the years to come?

Hopefully it will create more raw, powerful, angry and sharp artists that use their cameras as weapons.

I once read where someone compared you to Gordon Parks. How does a compliment of that magnitude make you feel?

Good, but even though he did the best he could with what he had he was a little too "over there" in the White world trying to live up to their image of what he should or should not be, but he did his thing and I ain't mad at him and meeting him and having my work alongside his in a gallery was exciting, but I'd rather be compared to Edward Curtis or to myself.

With the success of your book "Who Shot Ya", do you feel like you've solidified your career? If not, what's next on your creative agenda?

Between "Who Shot Ya?" and "100 Shots To Da Dome" a gallery show at the NYC Urban Museum which featured over 100 of my best shots, a film on my life and the four books I just finished I'm back in heavy duty hard body grind mode and time will tell what I do with this creative blast (works available only at http://www.lulu.com

The Other Side of Hip Hop" a movie about your life, was awarded Best Documentary in the 2007 Big Apple Film Festival. Tell me how that made you feel?

When I saw people crying during the film when I saw my life flash before me on the screen it was both exciting and deeply painful, and it is good that people were able to see me as more than just a "Hip Hop Photographer" but also as an artist, thinker and fighter for some degree of justice and clarity of thought. And as Jamel Shabazz reminded me the film will be something for my children and grandchildren as part of a legacy.

You recently embarked on a Self publishing mission, with the intent to do a series of 10 books in 10 weeks, please elaborate on this unique concept.-

(Thanks to Martha Diaz for pulling my coat) I have already completed four books in the New Year and it is only the 18th of January. Don't think these are rush jobs, they are not. These are books that took me 30 plus years to compile and many have been laid out as books for over two years while I waited for a book agent and some publishing house to get back to me which once again they are sleeping on me so I have to do the creative, business, marketing and hustling all by myself. It is a tough task but one I am uniquely prepared for. And as always exists in the back of my mind, hopefully it will set an example for other photographers and young people to do for self.

10-Where do you see Ernie Paniccioli in 10 years?

If I'm lucky I'll be alive and 71 years young and living in a mansion by the beach with a huge room full of trophies. Or just a mean OG still with a quick smile, a firm hand shake and a gleam in my eye but tomorrow has to take care of tomorrow. We have to take care of today. Peace and love, Ernie Paniccioli 2008

Much love and respect my Brother, you are a true Force.

DJ Disco Wiz and James "Koe" Rodriguez