Lessons from the dude who persuaded DMX to climb into a pool of blood.

Hip hop photographer Jonathan Mannion has captured classic photos of Biggie, Aaliyah, Drake, Lil Wayne and plenty more over his two decades behind the viewfinder, including eight album covers for Jay Z.

In his TEDYouth talk he reveals the stories behind some of his best shots – including the time he dropped his pants in front of DMX and the time he went to visit Drake’s grandma – and explains what makes a great photographer stand apart in the era of Instagram.

Check it out below. [via Potholes in my Blog]