'Fourth' Beastie Boy Ricky Powell dies aged 59

Publish date: 2024-06-01

Photographer Ricky Powell, who was often referred to as the ‘fourth Beastie Boy’ has died at the age of 59.

The ’80s and ’90s icon passed away from heart failure, with a statement released by his management on Tuesday confirming the sad news.   

His manager and business partner Tono Radvany told Pitchfork: ‘I just want to let everybody know he was a very special man, and he will be sorely missed.’

Loss: Photographer Ricky Powell, who was often referred to as the 'fourth Beastie Boy' has died at the age of 59 from heart failure

Loss: Photographer Ricky Powell, who was often referred to as the 'fourth Beastie Boy' has died at the age of 59 from heart failure

Loss: Photographer Ricky Powell, who was often referred to as the ‘fourth Beastie Boy’ has died at the age of 59 from heart failure

During his career, Powell photographed the likes of Run-DMC, Chuck D and LL COOL J. 

As well as hip-hop artists, he also snapped the biggest stars of the era including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sofia Coppola and Laurence Fishburne.

His closest relationship was with the Beastie Boys though, making regular cameos on their tours and videos including an appreance in their iconic ‘(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)’ video. 

He was immortalised in the lyrics for Beastie Boys song Car Thief, with the line: ‘Homeboy, throw in the towel / Your girl got d**ked by Ricky Powell’.

 

Close: LL Cool J was among the first to pay tribute, saying Powell 'captured the culture'

Close: LL Cool J was among the first to pay tribute, saying Powell 'captured the culture'

Close: LL Cool J was among the first to pay tribute, saying Powell ‘captured the culture’

The multi-talented star also hosted a TV show, Rappin With the Rickster, for six years during the 1990s. 

Born in New York in 1961, Powell got his big break in 1986 by going on tour with the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC, having previously attended high school with Beastie Boys member Ad-Rock. 

Powell held degrees from LaGuardia Community College and Hunter College, but took up photography out of spite after finding a camera left behind by an ex-girlfriend.

According to reports he decided to make something of himself in photography to show his ex what she missed out on.

Collabs: His closest relationship was with the Beastie Boys, making regular cameos on their tours and videos including an appreance in their iconic '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)' video

Collabs: His closest relationship was with the Beastie Boys, making regular cameos on their tours and videos including an appreance in their iconic '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)' video

Collabs: His closest relationship was with the Beastie Boys, making regular cameos on their tours and videos including an appreance in their iconic ‘(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)’ video

Iconic: During his career, Powell photographed the likes of Run-DMC, Chuck D and LL COOL J. As well as hip-hop artists, he also snapped the biggest stars of the era including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sofia Coppola and Laurence Fishburne (pictured with Black Thought of The Roots in 2009)

Iconic: During his career, Powell photographed the likes of Run-DMC, Chuck D and LL COOL J. As well as hip-hop artists, he also snapped the biggest stars of the era including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sofia Coppola and Laurence Fishburne (pictured with Black Thought of The Roots in 2009)

Iconic: During his career, Powell photographed the likes of Run-DMC, Chuck D and LL COOL J. As well as hip-hop artists, he also snapped the biggest stars of the era including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Sofia Coppola and Laurence Fishburne (pictured with Black Thought of The Roots in 2009)

He began to photograph the celebs and his society friends at the art openings and hip-hop shows he frequented in downtown Manhattan, and in 1986, quit his job selling lemon ices to tour with the Beastie Boys.

His photography was published in several collections over the years, including the retrospectives Oh Snap!: The Rap Photography of Ricky Powell (1998) and Public Access: Ricky Powell Photographs 1985-2005. A documentary, Ricky Powell: The Individualist, premiered in May 2020. 

He was also active on social media, sharing photographs on Instagram up until a few days before his death.  

LL Cool J was among the first to pay tribute, saying Powell ‘captured the culture’, while Rev Run of Run-DMC wrote in an Instagram post: 

‘RIP Ricky Powel Took some of the greatest photos of Run DMC and a good dude.’ 

 

Tribute: Rev Run of Run-DMC wrote in an Instagram post: 'RIP Ricky Powel Took some of the greatest photos of Run DMC and a good dude.'

Tribute: Rev Run of Run-DMC wrote in an Instagram post: 'RIP Ricky Powel Took some of the greatest photos of Run DMC and a good dude.'

Tribute: Rev Run of Run-DMC wrote in an Instagram post: ‘RIP Ricky Powel Took some of the greatest photos of Run DMC and a good dude.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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