Kevin Amato's Favourite Shots

Kevin Amato resides in the Bronx – the birthplace of hip-hop and subsequent musical icons such as Afrika Bambataa and Big Pun.  Please be aware that Kevin Amato is not a rapper; his weapon of choice is more likely to be a Nikon Camera, rather than two turntables and a microphone – but, his photography speaks just as many words as a cinematic-verse from Slick Rick or Biggie Smalls.  Kevin’s most popular work Love Will Tear Us Apart is a beautifully-coarse portrayal of NY’s Hardcore music-scene.  As well as working with Vibe and Trace magazine, Kevin recently collaborated with fashion label Hood By Air. His forthcoming  solo-project Stay Lovely is, in his own words, inspired by "coming of age, style driven, swagger drenched and often sensitive, yet aware, individuals."

Kevin gave us some insight into the people featured in some of his favourite shots and the stories behind the images:

"Lilanna was a dominatrix who went by the name of ‘Lola’ when she was ‘working’.  She was one of my first subjects that actually got me to 'let go'.  She was tough, but quite graceful.  This was taken at the Old Plaza hotel in Cuba.  I still have all the stationary."

"This image is an outtake from a shoot I did for Dazed. Robbie Spencer came to the Bronx.  He was wearing above the knee cuffed-shorts, 18 -hole combat boots and an oversized sleeveless band tee - like Dark Side of the Moon or some shit.  We stood out, I guess.  Towards the end of the shoot, some dude rolled up on us, trying to throw hands.  Long story short, the model Mike Knox boxed the dude in his face.  This is Mike after the fight.  Of all times for that to happen, it had to be when Robbie was fucking here…"

"These 2 dudes are from the Stay Lovely project. They're best friends and puff weed, heavenly. I shot them in my hallway.  Jimmy, with the Mohawk, is definitely inspiring to me. He's a thinker, and mad resilient. Yuri's like that, too.  He was kind of a muse for my Projects with Hood By Air. He lives by me, but in Co-op city, which is the largest housing development in the world and was funded by the Government in the 70's. He's with Request models, now. I’ve seen his development first hand. It's serious; he’s like a diamond in the rough."