Ask anyone in the music industry and they will tell you, Johnny Nuñez is the man.

For 25 years, he has captured hip-hop history frame by frame after finding his calling for photography while working as a pizza deliveryman in Brooklyn, where he grew up.

These days he’s a professional, and beloved by some of the biggest names in the music industry.

What You Need To Know

  • Celebrity photographer Johnny Nuñezis on a first name basis with hip-hop royalty

  • He started out selling pizzas on the streets of Brooklyn until he found his true calling 25 years ago

  • Nuñez is now stepping in front of the lens and taking his 25-year archive of hip-hop history on tour

  • He is also sponsoring pop-ups of his favorite works including iconic images of Jay-Z and Mike Tyson

“I like to capture the artist not posing,” Nuñez said. “For me it’s the emotion. The image is like an emotion suspended in time.”

Nuñez will soon be stepping in front of the lens as he prepares to go on a national tour with his 25-year archive.

The idea began last month, when he hosted a pop-up shop to sell some of his favorite shots, including photographs of Q-Tip, Pharrell and Mos Def.

Nuñez said his personal favorite is one with his friend, rapper Fat Joe and the late Big Pun.

But it’s an iconic shot of Jay-Z that gets him the most attention.

“I love hip-hop,” Nuñez said. “You shoot what you love best.”

Nuñez also just launched a new website, johnnynunez.com.

He is also preparing to do a residency with WQHT, known as Hot 97, to share his thoughts on having a front row seat to the music genre over the last quarter century.