Ricky Powell Turns 50 & He's Funnier Than Ever!

It's always a treat talking to and/or being around quintessential New Yorker Ricky Powell, his stories are consistently funny and interesting.

Whether you're in the audience at a RockSteady Anniversary party, a gallery opening or a book signing, the Brooklyn-Jewish-Mexican-Italian keeps you in stitches with his content and delivery.

PHOTOS: Def Jam 25th Anniversary Private Dinner!

We spoke to the fourth Beastie Boy last week a few days after the official Def Jam photographer turned the big Five-0 and he had us cracking up on the phone.

50 is a big deal in hip-hop!  

After all, there's only a handful of people who can say they were there and witnessed it from the get-go. But Powell is more than just a watcher and participant of some of the greatest American-originated artists in history, this son of a single mom, author, publisher, curator, photographer and documentarian, is also a chronicler of some of the most important artists and art happenings around our fair city.

He's photographed Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Dondi, Basquiat, Laurence Fishburne, the aforementioned Beasties, Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, LL Cool J, everybody associated with Def Jam and 1980s contemporary art.

And you know what? He's had a great time doing it.

Ladies and Gents: Herrrrrrrrrrrrrre's Ricky!!!

GlobalGrind: Happy birthday, man!

Ricky Powell: Oh, thank you! You heard about that?

Yeah. A little birdie told us you turned the big 5-0.

I am still recouping after going buck-nutty for 10 days.

How incredible is it you’re turning 50? You’re older than hip-hop! How does it feel?

How does it feel to be older than hip-hop? I don’t know, how does it feel to be younger than the boogaloo and f**king Al Jolson? It’s a state of mind, it depends on life and experience. With me, it depends on my mind and mood. It depends on where my head is at. It changes, it can’t just stay in one place. I’m here getting pick-up from my local Chinese restaurant for struggling artists. I got to go home and get my weed though, I need to do interviews while I’m on Huckleberry, but I’ll take a detour, let's get some of this. What is your magazine called, Gay Wigger?