LO LIFE: VINTAGE POLOROID PHOTO GALLERY

LO LIFE: VINTAGE POLAROID PHOTO GALLERY

Come check out our Vintage Polaroid Photo Gallery at Seven House Gallery! Immerse yourself in a world of nostalgia as you browse through a collection of unique and timeless Polaroid snapshots. Whether you're a photography enthusiast or just appreciate the beauty of vintage art, this event is sure to captivate you. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the charm of Polaroid photography up close and personal. See you there!

RACK-LO

POLO GODFATHER

PRESENTS

LO LIFE: VINTAGE POLOROID PHOTO GALLERY

(1988-1995)

PLUS;

STYLES & LOOKS

PANEL DISCUSSION

IN VOGUE 90’S DOCUMENTARY VIEWING (HULU)

MUSIC (GOLDEN ERA)

PRINTS FOR SALE

RL JEWELRY MERCH

ART & PAINTINGS

FOOD

DRINKS

BOOKS

FOOTWEAR

SKATE BOARD DECKS

FREE GIVEAWAYS

NETWORKING

SATURDAY APRIL 19TH

(12:00 PM – 1:00 AM)

Celebrating 37 years of fashion, style, culture, lifestyle and influence,

Rack-Lo Polo Godfather presents Lo Life: Vintage Poloroid Photo Gallery (Saturday April 19, 2025) -celebrating its 35th year of these fashion historians and trendsetters. By far, this is the most comprehensive exhibit to date depicting a fashion revolution deriving from the mean streets of Brooklyn New York straight out of The Golden Era of Hip-Hop. A display of the crews most riveting photography during the pivotal time frame of 1988 – 1995 will be illustrated along with the reinterpretation of style and dress code originally coined by the Lo Life’s properly labeled “Lo Down” accompanied by the music and soundscapes of the period. However, it’s not just all about Polo by Ralph Lauren as other notable fashion brands were also donned by the Lo Life’s that gained enhanced popularity throughout Urban America that would eventually touch suburbia, which will also be a focal point on display encompassing; Guess by Georges Marciano and many others. In addition, a panel discussion will also be a part of the events agenda. The exhibit will be curated by Rack-Lo, his wife Sheena (original Lo Wife) and original Lo Life (AV Rock).

HISTORY AND BACK STORY OF THE LO-LIFE CREW:

The Birth of a Movement

Established in 1988, Lo Life’s is a Brooklyn-based movement and international Hip – Hop fashion and style conglomerate co-founded by founders Rack-Lo (George Billips), and Thirstin Howl The 3rd (Victor Dejesus) devoted to the shoplifting (boostin) and wearing of Polo Ralph Lauren apparel and other fashion brands.

This was during New York City’s rough-and-trifling years. The crack epidemic had devastated low-income neighborhoods; homicide rates hit record highs; Ed Koch’s tough-minded 12-year run as mayor was just about up. To be ruthless was the only way to live, especially if you were poor and black. For kids like Rack-Lo, boosting the latest designer garments was used as an escape from the daily struggle. But it wasn't just a way of grasping for flash, for financial prosperity, and for a seemingly unreachable lifestyle. It was a way to cope. It was a way to survive. It was a way to grab hold of the American Dream as these young fly teenagers interpreted it. It was a way and outlet to be different, daring and original in these tumultuous times.

The influential Brooklyn street crew The Lo Life’s have made a dynamic impact on hip-hop fashion that can still be felt today with artists from all generations. Their incredible story was finally told to a new generation of hip-hop fashionistas with the release of Rack-Lo’s (2) books “Lo Life: An American Classic” and “Lo Life: The Autobiography of Rack-Lo” and Thirstin Howl The 3rd book “Bury Me with The Lo On”, with RL books being published by Powerhouse Books with international distribution by Simon and Schuster.

Forty Deuce: Lo Life Stomping Grounds

New York was a different place in the ’80s. Times Square—a.k.a. “Forty Deuce”—was littered with pushers, pimps, hoes, peep shows, syringes, and crack vials, a far cry from the advertising Disneyland it is today. It was a playground for Wall Street types, tourists, teenagers looking for a good time, petty criminals looking for a quick come-up, and frequented by various street crews from each of the five boroughs, most notably a Brooklyn collective known as the Lo-Life’s. Unsuspecting tourists and chumps too eager to flaunt the day’s latest threads were preyed upon by opportunistic locals. Dookie rope chains were being snatched on the daily, and various coats were game, especially shearlings and jackets the streets referred to as “Suicides.” Suicides were usually pricey outerwear made by an affluent brand.

“We always had a heavy emphasis on 'LO. It made us exclusive. The colors stood out and people were able to identify us. Polo became a uniform.” —Rack-Lo

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Seven House Gallery, 35 Meadow Street, Brooklyn, United States