“I just want to let everybody know he was a very special man, and he will be sorely missed,” Radvany said.

Powell made his name documenting Hip-Hop in the vibrant New York scene of the 1980s and 1990s. He went on tour with Run-D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys in 1985, documenting Def Jam's rise, and photographing soon-to-be-legends like LL Cool J, Public Enemy, and Eric B and Rakim.

His time with the Beastie Boys would become lionized in their song "Car Thief" from their seminal 1989 album Licensed To Ill.

The news of Powell's death sparked reactions from luminaries such as Questlove, Q-Tip and Chuck D. “#RestInBeats The Rickster aka RICKY Powell of course to the right of Clyde Frazier was the quintessential New York Cityer, iconic B Boy and the ‘freezer of great NEW YORK moments and figures’ as a photographer,” Chuck D tweeted. “He shot with authentic ease and NYC swag before the popular term.”

#RestInBeats The Rickster aka RICKY Powell of course to the right of Clyde Frazier was the quintessential New York Cityer , iconic B Boy and the ‘freezer of great NEW YORK moments and figures’ as a photographer. He shot with authentic ease and NYC swag before the popular term pic.twitter.com/8omwjYvRXc
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) February 2, 2021

Rip 2 my man Ricky Powell. So NYC official... the parties when he would rock the slides.. the jokes and most importantly his capturing of life 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/qhinT9a10S
— QTip (@QtipTheAbstract) February 2, 2021

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