Nigeria-born, New Jersey known hip-hop photographer, Chi Modu, is dead, aged 54.
His death was announced on his Instagram page on Saturday with a cryptic picture post showing the time of birth to the year he passed.
The post shows the photographer’s signature with the year, with the caption: “1966-2021”.
The second slide showed a smiling Chi Modu in a chair enjoying life. The caption read, “Our hearts are broken…We continue the fights. The family requests privacy at this time.”
Nothing has been said about the cause and time of death as press time.
Chi Modu was born on July 7, 1966 in Nigeria. He was one of hip-hop known photographers, especially in the 90s.
One of his pre-eminent work was the one where he captured the late legend, TuPac Shakur, in a shirtless black and white picture.
The icon has worked with notable rappers and singers like Biggie Smalls, Snoop Dogg, Mary J.Blige, Mac Miller, Diddy, Dr Dre and many others.
Chi Modu has also worked with The Source, New York Times, and the Rolling stone.
He also appeared on countless hip-hop shows and interviews.
Chi Modu appeared on a show with Ddotun in Lagos Nigeria titled ‘CHI MORDU LIVE ON #MIDDAYOASIS’, where he had an essential interview.
In the interview, the late legend talked about his work and how he hopes to inspire people instead of how people see success without challenges.
When asked about the most difficult part of his job, he said, “The challenge people have these days is they rush into it hoping to succeed”.
Chi Modu also talked about his 30 years experience and how it took a long time to get to where he is.
In a documented video on Youtube titled ‘Chi Modu Uncategorized Lagos’, the late photographer explained how he visualizes things and how he makes stories out of his arts.
In 2016, he published a book of photos called :Tupac Shakur: Uncategorized’, which documented the period of their meeting in 1994 until six months before the rapper’s death in 1996.
In the ’90s, Modu became the director of photography for the lauded hip-hop magazine, The Source, where he shot more than 30 covers during the golden age of hip-hop.
