The Ascension Years” Exhibit Opens at Royal Albert Hall – A Rare Glimpse Into Hip Hop’s Golden Roots
By HiphopLondon Staff | May 23, 2025
Hip-hop heads in the UK, mark your calendars. This June, The Royal Albert Hall will become a time capsule of golden era hip-hop with The Ascension Years, a rare photography exhibition by British documentarian Tee Max.
Set in the Hall’s Amphi corridor, this immersive visual experience showcases previously unseen images of icons before the world fully knew their names—Usher, Beyoncé, Method Man, The Notorious B.I.G., and more. It also shines light on UK legends like Michelle Escoffery, TY, and Shortee Blitz, offering a rare and raw look at the early ’90s hip-hop scene on both sides of the Atlantic.
Unfiltered & Unreleased
The photos—shot on film and flash-lit to perfection—have been locked away for nearly 30 years. Now, Tee Max is peeling back the curtain on an untapped archive, capturing a pivotal moment when hip-hop was still underground but bubbling toward global dominance.
The energy in these images is real—no stylists, no media handlers—just artists hungry, fearless, and building legacies from the ground up.
When & Where
While the exhibit is typically only accessible during live performances at the Royal Albert Hall, fans are being gifted two free entry open days:
- Saturday, June 7 – Tee Max will be in attendance for a live talk
- Saturday, June 28
If you’re serious about the roots of the culture, this is one not to miss.
Final Word
The Ascension Years isn’t just a photo exhibit—it’s a reminder of hip-hop’s raw beginnings, captured through a British lens, when the world had no idea what was coming. From street legends to global icons, these moments freeze time right before the explosion.
For those in London or making the trip, this one’s for the culture.