IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT.
Whether he’s directing a photo shoot or racing though the streets in his whip, Derick G always has his wheels turning. 

Words: Tony Gervino

Images: Derick G

Photo Editors: Casey Levine & Monique Perreault 

Designer: Davina lennard-Alladlce

RESPECT. Founder: Jonathan Rheingold

The first thing that shocks you about Derick G is how young he is, in relation to a lot of professional photographers—just 26 years old. His demeanor and his work both belie a much older, more experienced cat. But he’s as new-school as new-school gets.

“I’ve never even shot on film,” he says, laughing. “I’m the new breed. The last time I shot with film was in middle school.”

Despite his childhood fascination with the subject, the Miami-based G fell into the photography game by accident. “I have a car company called Reel Ridez, and we provide a lot of the cars for hip-hop videos,” he explains. “I was on set shooting my cars, and a couple of directors saw my work and liked it—and that was that.”

And “that” has included his acceptance into the Cash Money/Young Money crew as its go-to photographer. The gig has taken him all over the world, and that’s where his discretion was most evident. When a photographer’s on the road documenting hip-hop tours—and their accompanying excess—anything can, and usually does, happen.

“I went with the whole Young Money/Cash Money crew to Paris, and it was wild, man,” he laughs. “We were in a country where not everyone speaks English, and yet everyone was singing Wayne’s lyrics back to him word for word. I was sitting onstage taking pictures, watching the entire crowd rapping ‘Mr. Carter,’ and I was bugging out.”

Spend a few minutes looking through his portfolio and you’ll have the same reaction.

Photo Captions

Nicki Minaj & Lil Wayne
February 2010
On the set of “Knock Out”
Miami

 

Lil Wayne & Eminem
February 2010
On the set of “Drop the World”
Los Angeles

 

Nicki Minaj & Lil Wayne
February 2010
On the set of “Knock Out”
Miami

 

Lil Wayne
February 2010
On the set of “Drop the World”
Los Angeles

 

Drake
September 2010
2010 Drake tour
Miami

 

Nicki Minaj
August 2010
On the set of “2012”
Los Angeles

 

Young Jeezy, DJ Khaled & Rick Ross
February 2010
On the set of “Put Your Hands Up”
Miami

 

Birdman
February 2010
On the tour bus
Paris

 

Baby & Bow Wow
February 2010
Outside of the Super Bowl
Miami

 

Rick Ross
October 2010
On the set of “Aston Martin Music”
Miami

 

Young Money Cash Money Billionaires
August 2010
YMCMB Yacht Party
Miami

 

Birdman & Slim
February 2010
Flying to New Orleans for Birdman’s birthday
Opa-locka, Florida

 

Originally Published in RESPECT Issue #5

Story Copyright Musinart LLC

All Photos Copyright Derick G