View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Abbey Road Studios (@abbeyroadstudios)

The New York-based photographer made a name for himself within the late 90s and early 00’s with his timeless pieces featuring the era’s brightest stars. Johnson’s photos of Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Biggie Smalls, Nas and Aaliyah sired the photographer a reputation for brilliance and placed him at the forefront of the music industry. Much like the musicians he snapped, Johnson’s talent has transcended through the decades. The icon award first winner’s recent work includes modern-day artists including Shygirl and Doja Cat.

Johnson has spoken about the win, “It’s super surreal being the first recipient of the Abbey Road Studios Music Photography ICON Award. I’m super low-key by nature and through all of these years it never dawned on me that after taking all of these pics that ultimately it would all come back to me. That people would be curious about me. I kinda knew that my photos would stand the test of time but being considered an ICON wasn’t anything I really thought about. Wow!!! I’m into it.”

The legendary shutterbug continued to discuss his work, “Having such a diverse group of talented artists recognise my work is really what it’s all about. This is a curious industry we’re in. It’s been like a rollercoaster ride and this acknowledgement is such a high. It makes me feel like ‘Wow, I’ve really been right and onto something from the beginning and people are really recognising this. It’s AWESOME and inspires me to keep pushing even more. I wanna keep creating imagery that the culture really feels.”

Johnson concludes with advice for aspiring photographers, “I hope this all inspires emerging talents to try and stay as true to yourself as possible. There’s potentially something great just around the corner. Don’t sweat the industry like that. Keep working on your craft.”

Isabel Garvey, Abbey Road’s Managing Director has also given a statement concerning the award, “The judging panel wanted the recipient of our first MPAs ‘Icon Award’ to be a photographer whose impact and contribution to the art of music photography has been pronounced and unparalleled and we have no doubt that Eric meets these criteria. We’re delighted that Eric has accepted the award as his work throughout his career to date has been some of the most vital and memorable in music photography.”

The historic studios are holding the new awards as part of their birthday celebration, the ceremony will join the various events planned to observe the studio’s 90th anniversary. A statement provides further information, “The MPAS honour the images that capture the magic of live music, the creative process, and the exciting music scenes and movements taking place across the world. The awards will recognise photographers at all levels – whether established, emerging or undiscovered – via open-entry categories, as well as categories chosen by an esteemed judging panel made up of artists, photographers and influential names across the global music and photography industries.“

After leaving fans speculate about the possibility of Lipa’s collaboration with the one and only queen of pop Madonna, today the “Don’t Start Now” hitmaker has confirmed that the rumour is true!

Lipa will release a re-imagined version of “Levitating“, the electropop fifth track on highly acclaimed ‘Future Nostalgia‘ dropped in March. The track is a follow-up to the fourth cut “Hallucinate” that was recently promoted with an animated treatment.

The “Levitating” remix will feature pop legend Madonna on the track, alongside hip-hop icon Missy Elliot, both of whom are Lipa’s idols, as she wrote on her Instagram post: “DREAM COME TRUE.” See the post below.

ดูโพสต์นี้บน Instagram

LEVITATING REMIXED BY THE BLESSED MADONNA FEATURING MY IDOLS MADONNA & MISSY ELLIOTT – 14TH OF AUGUST – DREAM COME TRUE LETS GO!!!!!!

โพสต์ที่แชร์โดย DUA LIPA (@dualipa) เมื่อ ก.ค. 27, 2020 เวลา 11:10am PDT

To bring more excitement for the upcoming single, American DJ and musician Marea Stamper aka The Blessed Madonna will help create a new version for the tune. Recently, the DJ just changed her stage name from The Black Madonna due to the Change.org petition with 1,300 signatures requesting her to do so. Stamper has done a number of remixes for big names like Robyn (“Between the Lines“), Silk City & Dua Lipa (“Electricity“), Celeste (“Stop This Flame“), and Georgia (“About Work the Dancefloor“).

The track is set to drop on August 14 (via Warner Records). We hope the song will get a stunning, star-studded video like how this banger deserves!

Elsewhere, Lipa just achieved a life-time attainment with a nomination for The Mercury Prize. Her disco-driven ‘Future Nostalgia‘ is shortlisted for this prestigious award alongside pop fellow Charli XCX (‘how i’m feeling now‘), indie breakthrough Sports Team (‘Deep Down Happy‘), and grime hero Stormzy (‘Heavy Is the Head‘).

For nearly 50 years, the Songwriters Hall of Fame has recognized the achievements of the artists who put words and music together. We revealed the six artists of the 2019 class, including @MissyElliott, the first female hip-hop artist to be inducted. https://t.co/TUgScFnmVDpic.twitter.com/rJALbUNElx

— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 12, 2019

 

Missy Elliot becomes only the third rapper to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, after Jay Z in 2017 and Jermaine Dupri in 2018 and the decision has achieved widespread praise from fellow recording artists and fans. With Elliot herself saying how humbled she was.

YOU ARE THE BLUE PRINT . Without you we would not know how to flip it and reverse it . PeriodT . I love youuuuu @MissyElliott , congratulations !!!! https://t.co/CqqgCP0jds — Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) January 13, 2019

Described as “One of the most significant female artists in contemporary music history” Missy Elliott, born 1st July, 1971, has been at the top of the music industry for over twenty years. She has won 5 GRAMMY® Awards and released six studio albums which included the timeless hits “Get Ur Freak On” (2001) and “Work It” (2002). She has also wrote hit songs for a wide range of artists including Beyonce, Whitney Huston and Mary J Blige. In 2016 she appeared on Car Pool Karaoke with the serving First Lady Michelle Obama.

The other artists to be inducted into The Hall of Fame include ‘Wild World’ songwriter Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens). Born in London in 1948 he has been releasing music since the mid-1960s, with his most recent album ‘The Laughing Apple’ being nominated for a GRAMMY® in 2017. American country stars John Prine and Tom T. Hall, record producer and musician Dallas Austin and Californian songwriter Jack Tempchin complete this years list. They will be officially inducted on the 13th of June in New York.

Former Chic front man Nile Rodgers, president of the Song Writers Hall of Fame, released a statement explaining the nominations: “The 2019 slate of inductees represents diversity and unity across genres and gender, highlighting our dedicated mission to honor music creators who have enriched our lives. These are writers who in their time literally transformed music and helped make what’s happening today possible”

Two decades passed since Elliot’s first release, ‘Hot Boyz’. Song Writers Hall of Fame criteria dictate artists are eligible for induction if they have a “catalog of notable hit songs” spanning over 20 years. Elliot’s nomination has therefore come in her first year possible, with Rodgers admitting on air that Elliott “one of my favorite writers of all time”

Elliot’s career has inspired countless new artists, but she’s sure to be ‘the hottest ’round’ for the foreseeable future.