Last week, DX reported that Los Angeles art collective SceneFour was turning its collaborations with the likes of the RZA and Chuck D into a gallery exhibit. Now, it looks like the Beastie Boys are the latest Hip Hop group to get the gallery treatment with photographer Sunny Bak’s retrospective collection “Boys and Dogs.”

According to a recent press release, Bak’s “Boys and Dogs” will be a retrospective collection of the Beastie Boys’ 1986 Licensed to Ill tour, as well as her collection of photographs of dogs dressed up as celebrities that had been featured in her best-selling parody book of People magazine Pupple. Brian Lee of the Hold Up gallery, where Bak’s exhibit will be featured, spoke on the celebrated photographer’s collection of images featuring the Def Jam trio.

“Sunny Bak’s photos follow the Beastie’s during their late ’80s Licensed to Ill tour, offering a very intimate perspective on such a ground-breaking time,” said Lee. “Whether it is our distance in time or the closeness Sunny shared with the Beastie Boys, Bak’s photos bring you closer to understanding who these three guys really were, aside from their music videos. The photos reveal the personal side of them, and a universal story of youth, potential, and the American Dream.”

Bak also tooke photos featured on the Beasties’ debut album cover, and has since contributed images to the Bing ad campaign for Jay-Z’s Decoded. The exhibition runs through October 8 to November 1 at the Hold Up Art gallery in Los Angeles, CA.

HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD

In other news, another late ’80s Hip Hop star Heavy D is making his return to the Hip Hop scene. The Mount Vernon-based rapper released his ninth album Love Opusearlier today via iTunes, with supporting features from the likes of crooners Anthony Hamilton and Carl Thomas.

Love Opus marks Heavy D’s first commercial release in three years since his 2008 return to music Vibes. A complete tracklist of the eight-song Love Opus can be seen below.

  1. Love In A Bottle 
  2. Valentine 2/14 
  3. Still Missing You (feat. Carl Thomas) 
  4. I Can’t (feat. Anthony Hamilton) 
  5. Put It All On Me 
  6. Love Your Soul 
  7. Dance For You 
  8. Hello

Finally, indie Baltimore rapper Wordsmith has built up a sizable presence on the Internet with his numerous song and mixtape releases. Now, the performance royalties group the American Society of Composers, Authors and Producers (ASCAP) recently awarded the DMV emcee and producer with its 2011-2012 ASCAPLUS Award.

HipHopDX | Rap & Hip Hop News | Ad Placeholder
AD

AD LOADING...

AD

The award celebrates burgeoning artists who have proved prolific in the early stages of their careers and established writers who have built up an extensive of collection of work in broadcast media during the tenure of their careers. Wordsmith earned this honor after his music received placement on a number of television programs, including CBS’s “The Defender,” VH1’s “The 40 Most Shocking Breakups” and more.

RELATED: Eric B. & Rakim, Beastie Boys Nominated For Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Short List