Before they were icons, they were kids on the come-up. The Ascension Years peels back the curtain on a forgotten archive of photographs captured in the early 1990s by British photographer and documentarian Tee Max. Tucked away for nearly three decades, these raw, flash-lit moments show artists before the world knew their names – confident, curious and carving their place in music history.
Now staged at the Royal Albert Hall in its most expansive showing to date, The Ascension Years brings together previously unreleased images of artists like Usher, Beyoncé, Method Man and The Notorious B.I.G., alongside UK trailblazers such as Michelle Escoffery, TY and Shortee Blitz.
Shot across the 90s into the early 00s, this archive documents a pivotal shift in music, creativity and cultural identity. Tee Max’s instinctive lens captured raw energy, unguarded moments and rising stars before they became household names.
As the 1980s gave way to the 1990s, hip hop’s growing momentum saw a wave of artists pushing party anthems and inner-city insights. Backed by major label investment and increased media exposure, this new sound became a cultural force, transforming not only music, but fashion, film and everyday life.
While some picked up mics, spray cans, lino or turntables, others used pen and camera to spotlight the rise of this movement. Tee Max was among them, quietly documenting the shift from underground scene to mainstream phenomenon.
Now coming to the Royal Albert Hall in its most expansive public presentation to date, The Ascension Years offers a rare opportunity to witness the early moments of those who reshaped modern music and culture.